Roundabout plan will dictate future of UHG helipad

The removal of the “temporary” helipad for University Hospital Galway is now predicated on the removal of the Browne roundabout, the HSE has revealed.

Residents claim that the HSE are effectively squatters on the Shantalla pitch after planning expired in 2014 for use of the public amenity land for helicopter landings for patients.

Locals agreed to hand over their pitch to the HSE as an emergency measure during building works, which saw the hospital’s own landing pad being built on.

At a Regional Health Forum West meeting, city councillor Niall McNelis asked whether the HSE management had liaised with the City Council over removing the helipad.

In a written response, the Chief Operating Officer of the Saolta Hospital Group, Ann Cosgrove, said the Council had asked the hospital managers to contribute to the transport management plan to develop access to UHG off the Browne Roundabout at the back of the hospital.

“It is hoped that the development of the Council scheme will address the requirements of the emergency services for improved facilities for helicopter landings and ambulance access as part of the overall process,” she wrote.

“It is intended that this will be a consultative process and all key stakeholders will be involved.”

Cllr McNelis asked how advanced is this transport management plan.

“Over one weekend, three helicopters landed at the same time,” he stated.

Ms Cosgrove admitted that it was originally intended to be a temporary helipad.

“In the last short while it isn’t as busy,” she contended.

She said recently roles had changed at the Council and many of the officials her staff had been dealing with when there had been momentum in the project, had moved.

“I’ve a meeting with the Director of Services at the end of July. A detailed consultative meeting has not happened which is what is required before we’d meet with residents.”

Cllr McNelis said the hospital was losing public support over the issue.

“It’s being known as a landgrab. The community did use that facility.”

The Browne roundabout was raised last month by City Council Chief Executive Brendan McGrath, who said it was included in his shopping list for vital projects at his meeting with the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the National Transport Authority (NTA).

The Browne roundabout and the Kirwan roundabout beside the Menlo Park Hotel were earmarked for signalised junctions under a package of measures on the city’s road network.