Second Galway motorway plaza approved this month with 'state of the art' service station
It is the second motorway plaza to be approved for Galway in July following the approval of one in Ballinasloe also
A second motorway plaza has been approved for Galway in the same month despite objections from locals.
Riverside Foods Ltd’s plans to build a “state of the art” food and drinks plaza on the R458 just off the motorway in Gort have been given the green light.
One resident said that the development was “entirely inappropriate” for the area and threatened the “safety of our community [and] ecological integrity of our local environment”.
Another local echoed these concerns and added that there would be risks to “equine and agricultural activities”.
Despite this, Galway County Council approved the development on the basis that 34 conditions were adhered to.
Conditions attached included that the premises “shall operate as an off-line motorway service area and shall not be used for functions or events or otherwise in a manner that would present the facility as a destination in its own right”.
They added that “outdoor amplified music or advertisements shall not be permitted on the forecourts” and that the drive-thru service would finish at 11pm, except Friday and Saturday where it can finish at 12am, starting at 7am seven days a week.
At the start of this month, it was also announced that another new motorway plaza would be coming to Galway just off Junction 15.
Built near the grounds of the existing Applegreen station in Ballinasloe on the R446, the new plaza beside the Garbally roundabout was approved but with 15 conditions attached.
It will be kitted out with two restaurants including a drive-thru option, a coffee dock, off licence, car wash and outdoor picnic space.
It will also have a charging hub for up to 36 electric cars as well as some space for larger electric vehicles.