Residents' anger at proposal to create access route through cul de sac
A proposal to create an access route through an already congested cul de sac in Renmore has met with fierce opposition from agitated residents – with fears surrounding traffic and access for emergency vehicles dominating their complaints.
Residents in Dun na Mara have been lobbying councillors and planners at City Hall since November 2015 to stop the sale of a small patch of green area that is currently owned by Galway City Council.
Planning permission was granted earlier this year for the construction of nine residential homes on a site adjacent to Dun na Mara – with the intended access route through an area of green space located at the end of the 50-year-old cul de sac.
In June, City Councillors will vote on the sale of the small piece of land and residents are calling for elected members to reject the proposal.
Una Shortt of Dun na Mara residents says that the residents are in favour of the development of private housing on private property, but they believe that there is no obvious necessity to route traffic through the estate – given that there are alternatives available.
“This is an L-shaped site and the field goes right on to the Renmore Road which is the main thoroughfare.
“This is at the very end of the cul de sac and it will be very challenging – even with the development traffic alone because it is chaos if we have even one house being renovated – I cannot comprehend it,” says Una.
Residents have cited repetitive issues of access for delivery trucks, bin lorries and emergency vehicles as evidence that the road is unsuitable.
They have run a door-to-door campaign, held three formal community gatherings, submitted 15 unique objections to planning permission and presented a petition with over 170 local signatures. For the rest of this story, see this week's Galway City Tribune. Buy a digital edition of this week's paper here, or download the app for Android or iPhone.