Council and HSE close to agreement on 'community gain' aspect to Galway helipad land deal for Shantalla
A fresh plan to resolve the deadlock over the controversial use of public land in Shantalla as a permanent helipad will be unveiled to the community next month.
Chief Executive of Galway City Council Leonard Cleary confirmed the land deal will involve “community gain”.
This would involve an unspecified financial outlay and be paid for jointly by the HSE and City Council.
Councillor John McDonagh (Lab) raised the issue at the April City Council meeting, and said the six City Central area councillors should be kept in the loop.
“We need to know what’s on the table” he said.
Mr Cleary said the community gain aspect of the plan was being finalised, and would be shown to councillors ahead of any public meeting.
“I’d be very surprised if the plan wasn’t acceptable to the community,” said Mr Cleary.
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Director of Services for Operational Development Patrick Greene said the Council would consult again with residents once the community gain aspect of the plan was agreed.
Director of Services for Project Development Derek Pender, who was dealing with the transport corridor aspect of the negotiations with the HSE, said there had been “very proactive” meetings in recent weeks to progress the issue.
The problem has its origins in a “temporary” land deal 13 years ago that was reneged on.
In 2013, the Council transferred public land in Shantalla to the HSE to use as a helipad at University Hospital Galway.
It was to be for six months, but it was never returned to the community.
The HSE wants to keep the land as a permanent helipad. The City Council wants to use part of the UHG campus as a public transport corridor, and both sides were negotiating a deal.
The proposal triggered significant local opposition and has been described as a ‘land grab’. Any permanent land transfer will need approval of councillors.
“If the community is not happy we can take our time”
At Monday’s meeting, Councillor Eibhlín Seoighthe (Ind) said the community was “not happy” and she queried whether enough time would be given to consult on the community gain aspect of the plan before councillors voted on it.
Mr Cleary said he would be surprised if the new plan that is being finalised wasn’t accepted by the community, but he said “if the community is not happy we can take our time” and revisit it.
He added that the Council has been given lots of ideas and input from the Shantalla community.
A Notice of Motion proposed by Councillor McDonagh remains on the agenda.
It reads that this Council, “affirms its commitment to transparency and public engagement and hereby resolves that no decision will be made to dispose of, sell, or otherwise transfer any part of Shantalla Park — including lands associated with the proposed helipad — without first conducting a full and proper consultation process with the local residents and relevant community”.