Tuam traders fury as ‘big dig’ looms

Date Published: 03-Dec-2009

THE business community in Tuam are up in arms as they feel that they are being “kept in the dark” about the proposed digging up of the town which will last for a two and a half year period.

They are complaining about the absence of any consultation about the €23 million project which is due to commence in January.

Major traffic disruption is expected once the digging for the installation of water and sewerage pipes begins as every street in the town will be dug up at some stage.

The business community are apprehensive about the dig as they accept that it will have a major impact on their trade if the disruption is as bad as they fear.

They say that they are being told that a works programme will be announced shortly but they say that they should have been consulted before this was prepared.

Publican Brian Loftus said that his is very disappointed with both Galway County Council and the contractors carrying out the works that there has been no consultation about the dig.

“The business people in the town are the ones who are going to feel the full impact of the dig and as yet nobody has been in contact with us.

“It would only be a matter of courtesy if Galway County Council or the contractors took a small bit of time out to inform us where and when it will be happening.

“I genuinely believe that they should have consulted with us when drawing up the programme of works rather than it being just a done deal and we have to grin and bear it”, Mr. Loftus said.

Another businessman, john Stapleton said that the dig would almost definitely result in job losses in Tuam because of the impact it would have on trade.

“There is no doubt that if there is disruption of the scale we are being told about, then the public will not come to Tuam to shop. It is as simple as that.

“But at no stage has Galway County Council approached us to inform us what is happening and yet we are the sector in which it will impact most”, he added.

Mr. Stapleton, who runs two hugely successful electrical stores in Tuam, said that the dig could close shops in the town – and yet the business community had not been consulted about the issue.

Mayor of Tuam, Cllr. Tom Reilly said that it was hoped that consultation would take place very soon and a programme of works would be made known.

“It is a great investment in the town but it is going to be a difficult two years or so for everybody. Hopefully the disruption can be kept to a minimum”, he said