New Galway 'village' with rail station 'could bring more traffic gridlock'

Galway City Council has unveiled its plans to transform 34 hectares of land in the east of the city into a new coastal community, including a proposed rail station, green spaces, playgrounds and community facilities.

But while local residents welcome the provision of badly needed housing, they warn that development on this scale must not come at the expense of neighbouring communities already struggling with traffic volumes.

The Council has launched a non-statutory public consultation on its Draft Urban Design Vision until 5pm on Monday, November 23.

A public drop-in event will also take place at Atlantic Technological University on Thursday, November 5, where the public can examine the proposals and meet the project design team.

The Council describes the vision as a transport-oriented development, with a proposed new rail station, links to the Galway-Dublin Greenway and an expanded network of dedicated cycleways and footpaths.

Plans also include flood defences, public recreation areas, structured play facilities and community hubs.

However, residents in neighbouring Renmore say the big unanswered question is how thousands of additional journeys will be accommodated without putting further pressure on an already serious traffic problem.

For Breda Fox, who lives in Renmore Park, the proposals have brought the issue of rat-running through the estate back into focus.

“What will happen to the traffic and how do they expect those trips to be carried out with the additional volume?” she asked.

“Houses are very welcome. It is needed. But it has to be done properly and planned. We need to ensure that when they are developing this it won't add to the existing traffic volume coming through Renmore and Murrough. It is already gridlocked during rush hour.

An estimated 5,000 vehicles a day already travel through Renmore to avoid congestion on the Dublin Road.

Breda fears that the Murrough suburb could conservatively add “another 3,000” cars on top of that.

She said the volume and speed of traffic on residential streets is a serious safety issue.

“How will we have protection?” she asked.

“Since I retired, I have become more aware. I was sweeping up outside and was nearly knocked down. I had to lep up onto the kerb. It is only a matter of time before someone is knocked down.”

Residents have been working with Galway City Council to introduce traffic-calming measures similar to those implemented Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown and Fingal, but Breda said progress has been frustratingly slow.

She believes the proposed Murrough development makes those interventions more urgent than ever.

“There is national guidance and there is local authority guidance. Never the twain shall meet or merge,” she said.

“No one in the country would be against the provision of housing.

“We all have the next generation coming up. We need the infrastructure for the volume of housing, schools, shops, facilities. It is a huge community they are building and it needs to be serviced.”

Her concerns mirror those raised by local community organisations earlier this year when plans for high-density residential development at Murrough were put forward as part of proposed changes to the Galway City Development Plan.

The Renmore Community Sustainable Planning Group, Renmore Residents’ Association and Renmore Area Traffic Committee all warned that development on this scale could place intolerable pressure on existing infrastructure and services.

While acknowledging Galway's housing crisis, the groups called for proper provision for schools, childcare, recreation, public transport and utilities, alongside measures to protect established residential areas.

The Renmore Community Sustainable Planning Group also questioned the proposed housing densities and argued that the development must respect the character and identity of Renmore.

Traffic was a particular concern for the Renmore Area Traffic Committee, which warned against creating new road connections that could funnel additional vehicles through existing estates.

Committee Chairman Pat Spelman said traffic interventions would need to be put in place on Murrough Avenue and Renmore Park before development proceeds.

The committee has previously raised objections to potential access routes through Gleann Rua and Ballyloughane, arguing that these could undermine years of efforts to tackle traffic volumes.

Dee McFadden of the Renmore Residents’ Association (RRA) said the organisation is encouraging everyone with an interest in the future of the area to participate in the latest consultation.

“The RRA will continue to monitor developments and, where appropriate, engage with the local authority to advocate for the necessary infrastructure and amenities to support a development of this scale and meet the needs of the wider community,” she said.

The public consultation is non-statutory and will give residents an opportunity to influence the emerging urban design vision for the lands.

The drop-in event takes place in the Café Foyer at ATU, Old Dublin Road, on Thursday, November 5, with an afternoon session from 3.30pm to 5pm and an evening session from 6.30pm to 8pm.

Submissions can also be made through the Council's online consultation portal at galwaycity.ie before the deadline of 5pm on Monday, November 23.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme