Councillor claims local ‘blue chip’ company wants to pay for overhaul of Blackrock
A proposal to get companies to sponsor public amenities such as roundabouts and tourist attractions like the Browne Doorway and the Blackrock Diving Tower in order to maintain them is to be put forward by a city councillor.
Fine Gael representative Pearce Flannery said he had been approached by seven companies who expressed an interest in entering into a joint partnership with the local authority to upgrade public infrastructure.
In return for their investment, they could get a plaque indicating their support.
“I have had a serious expression of interest from a local blue chip business wanting to provide financial support for the renovation of the Blackrock Diving Tower. They also offered up to 1,000 man hours of voluntary labour as part of their corporate social responsibility programme,” he revealed.
“The roundabouts in the city are in a sorry state – these could become iconic Galway emblems in themselves if there was a programme put in place.”
Cllr Flannery rejected the notion that the corporatisation of the city’s public amenities could be regarded as slippery slope.
“Our public amenities are in a dire condition. We do not have the resources to deal with them. The Council is constrained by the budget and if we can tap into that goodwill it’s a win-win for everybody,” he insisted.
“If we get a little sign saying sponsored by whoever, what harm is there in that for a radically-enhanced Galway visually.”
Many heritage structures such as the three castles and the Browne Doorway are at risk of deteriorating beyond repair due to lack of funding.
“At least with this joint partnership programme, we could stop the decline,” he exclaimed.