Arthouse cinema backers to be asked to explain delay in project

BY CIARAN TIERNEY

The backers of a proposed arthouse cinema for Galway are set to be called to a meeting with City Council officials and elected representatives to discuss delays to the €6.36 million project which has infuriated road users around Lower Merchants Road.

Members of the Council unanimously agreed last night to seek a meeting with Solas Galway Picture Palace Teo to ascertain the reasons behind the long delays to a project which had been earmarked for completion this year.

They supported a motion from Cllr Colette Connolly (Labour) to have the backers of the project explain the slow progress at the site, after a number of Councillors expressed frustration with the impact which the hoarding around the facility was having on the flow of traffic in the area.

A number of Councillors expressed anger that the local authority officials had not taken a greater role in overseeing construction of the project, given that that the Council had donated the prime city centre site, then valued at just under €2 million, to Solas.

“This Council granted the funding and gave the site for the project, and we all hoped it would go ahead,” said Cllr Connolly. “This project was due for completion in early 2011, but it hasn’t even commenced. It might now take a long time as the developers are engaged in a legal battle after damaging a neighbouring property. It is a nightmare situation.”

Director of Services Tom Connell, who presented the Council’s Arts and Culture quarterly report last night, said that the site had been handed over to Solas for the project.

“Solas are advancing that project and the City Council is not involved in it,” said Mr Connell. “While the arthouse cinema would be a welcome cultural facility for this city, I am not privy to details of the project itself.”

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