Councillors to save face by sacrificing Salthill cycleway

Whether are you are in favour of Option One or Option Two for the proposed temporary cycle lane in Salthill; or whether you prefer some other option not on the table, or the third Do-Nothing Option, there’s one thing everyone can agree on: The process to reach this stage has been an absolute shambles.

If there was a competition for ‘making it up as you go along’, this project would scoop second prize, after Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture.

Councillors ignoring official advice, a vote without debate, officials changing their advice, changing the project midstream without explanation, confining the public consultation to two options, then adding a third but hinting that third option isn’t really an option, consulting the emergency services after the options are chosen, not before, and so on and so on.

It’s amateurish. It’s incoherent. It’s insulting. And quite frankly, Galway deserves better.

Officials and elected members are equally to blame. The Byte below outlines the on-the-hoof decision process that got us to this point but what’s likely to happen in the near future?

Here’s one scenario. Chief Executive Brendan McGrath is due to bring a report back to councillors on February 14. What a romantic topic for cupid councillors to discuss on St Valentine’s Day!

With over 7,000 submissions, doubts abound that he can have the report ready by then – even working overtime. So it could be pushed back to March, which is the month the temporary, six-month cycle-lane is supposed to start.

But even if the report were ready, it’s becoming increasingly likely the temporary cycle lane will progress no further.

Yes, 17 councillors out of 18 voted in favour of the project last September but many of them have flip-flopped again since. Using the cover of Garda and emergency service objections, they could baulk and bow to business pressure.

Of course, McGrath could plough on. A vote on his report is not binding. He’s not obliged to follow through on that vote, which will reflect the new changed reality of councillors’ views.

Under pressure from Ministers Eamon Ryan – who is led by Senator Pauline O’Reilly on this – and Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton, the CE could order that the project proceeds.

That’s the theory. Realpolitik suggests the CE would not push through a proposal that doesn’t have the support of councillors, and by extension the people who vote for them – and pay his wages.

There’ll be blame game. McGrath will say he’s implementing the democratic wish. Councillors will save face and blame the Guards and everyone bar themselves. And the temporary cycle-lane will be sacrificed.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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