Westside Community Galway group meeting over new controversial student flats in car park
As construction continues on new student accommodation in a Westside car park, residents will meet in the coming days to plot their next move to oppose it.
Westside Community Galway, a group opposed to the 240-bed high-rise student complex off Seamus Quirke Road, has called a public meeting for Wednesday, March 25 to update locals on its activities.
The group was established a year ago this month. At the upcoming meeting residents will be asked to decide whether “we still have a mandate to oppose this development on behalf of our community,” said committee member Bernie Glynn.
If a majority is still in favour of opposing the development – which is well underway – then a new committee will be elected on the night.
The seven-storey student residential development in the car park at Westside Shopping Centre (Dunnes Stores) was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála – against advice of Galway City Council planners.
Ms Glynn said the group has been working behind the scenes and met planners in Galway City Council last month in a meeting organised by Mayor of Galway Councillor Mike Cubbard (Ind).
The group’s representatives questioned the Council over the Uisce Éireann contract. “We are not satisfied that there is a legitimate contract in place and this was one of An Bord Pleanála’s pre commencement conditions,” she said.
The group said it was also “very concerned” that there is no “satisfactory proof” of an agreement with University Hospital Galway and the HSE regarding a crane in the flight path of the helipad at UHG.
They have seen emails from the developer to the HSE but argue this does not constitute an agreement.
Galway City Council agreed to write to the HSE and Uisce Éireann and Westside Community Galway awaits the response.
A crane remained onsite this week and the ground floor of the development has already been built. The meeting at Westside Community Centre on Wednesday, March 25 starts at 8pm.