Galway City Council examining regeneration proposals
Galway City Council is preparing at least three applications for large-scale projects focused on cycling and walking in the second round of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.
In the first tranche of funding, Galway City received €6.3 million in total. Nearly €3m of that was allocated to creating cycle lanes between Oranmore and the city, while €2.7m was granted to change the Martin Roundabout at the Galway Clinic into a signalised junction providing an access route for the planned new urban town of Ardaun near Doughiska.
A further €708,000 was given towards the development of plans for core city centre areas including Nun’s Island, the inner-city harbour area and Sandy Road.
Under changes to the second round of the €2 billion fund to be spent nationally over the next seven years, public bodies such as educational facilities and Iarnród Éireann can continue to make applications but they have to be submitted through the local authority. The Council will have to prioritise projects in order of importance if submitting more than three applications.
Among the proposals which they were considering putting forward were the greenway between Oranmore and Barna, cycle lanes throughout the city linking up with schools and amenities and drawing up designs for reimagining public spaces such as the Small Crane and Woodquay.
Other projects which may get the Council’s stamp of approval were a five-platform extension for Ceannt Station to allow double tracks between Athenry and the city, an overhaul of facilities for GMIT and a pedestrian and cycle bridge from the Dyke Road to NUIG, where an application for a performance space was also being considered.
City Chief Executive Brendan McGrath told this month’s Galway City Council meeting the changes to the fund had made the applications “more cumbersome and difficult” instead of streamlining the process, which was proving “challenging and difficult”.
Councillor Mike Crowe (FF) said the Council had missed an opportunity by not inviting proposals from private entities. He called for more openness between officials and councillors.
Mr McGrath said he resented the comment, revealing they had only been informed that applications were open at the end of January, then came the election. Staff had only been briefed by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government a fortnight ago.
“The timeline provided is onerous in terms of how tight it is,” he shot back.
He pointed out that that matched funding at a minimum of 25% was required.
“The key message is the cost of delivering all of these projects is several hundred million euros.”
The councillors would be briefed on the final applications when finalised in time for the March 31 deadline.