Blackrock revamp stalled until 2023

Senior Engineer with Galway City Council, Carmel Kilcoyne, has confirmed that because it is located in a Special Area of Conservation, and given the type of repairs needed, the project will have to be submitted to An Bórd Pleanála for planning approval.

In a circular to councillors, Ms Kilcoyne said that the project is currently ‘on hold’ due to staffing shortages in the Parks Capital Section of the Council which has no engineers.

An engineer is due to fill a vacancy this coming January and this project will be identified as a priority for when the successful candidate begins.

Ms Kilcoyne said a lot of work on the project had already been carried out, and new consultants were appointed to progress it.

“The main reason that this project is being undertaken is due to essential structural repairs being required to the tower itself,” she said.

Significant pushback against a proposal in 2017 – mostly due to a plan to install additional hand-railing – meant the planned revamp did not go ahead.

“The new proposal is to provide the structural repairs to the tower and establish one safe access route out to the tower rather than trying to rail off all areas,” Ms Kilcoyne told councillors.

She said consultants have to carry out structural investigations and load testing on the tower itself to fully assess its condition, which will require the closure of the tower for up to five days. Advance notice will be given.

Ms Kilcoyne promised that non-statutory consultation will be arranged with elected members and the public next year but informal consultations with regular swimmers had already commenced.

The plan is to submit a planning application in the second quarter of 2022, with work commencing – subject to ABP approval – in 2023, with a completion date ahead of the June bathing season.

Councillor John Connolly (FF) said the Council must ensure the timelines for the progression of the enhancement works are followed and that the works must reflect the feedback previously received from users.

“In 2017, the Council brought forward a Part VIII planning scheme to carry out works on the tower and its vicinity. The proposal received a significant level of negative feedback from users at the time. This feedback should provide a good guide to the council in progressing an appropriate enhancement project on this occasion,” he said.

Cllr Connolly said the project “should not be allowed to be delayed any further” and if it gets approved “every effort should be made” to ensure it is delivered by Summer 2023.

“The Council must be conscious that even since 2017, the number of people using Blackrock on a regular basis has increased substantially and this must be reflected in both the consultation process and the eventual proposals that come forward,” he added.

Councillor Donal Lyons (Ind) welcomed the update from Ms Kilcoyne and said he raised the issue of the non-painting, and the proposed refurbishment, of the Blackrock Diving Tower at a recent meeting of the Climate Change, Environment and Strategic Policy Committee.

“The non-painting of the tower this year was due to health and safety issues which will be addressed in the proposed painting tender for 2022,” Cllr Lyons confirmed.