Shopping Centre Hits Another Setback

PlANs for a €140 million makeover of Galway shopping Centre have yet another stumbling block, after planning officials declared a vote on land rezoning must be taken in the City Council chamber. The major application is expected to lead to heated debate in the chamber, as it involves abandoning the existing 'magic’ roundabout at Terryland in favour of a high-tech 'super junction’, while councillors are also expected to come under pressure from business owners in the centre.In the meantime, members of the public have until September 19 to make submissions on the proposed rezoning of the Hibs’ Football Club lands on the Sean Mulvoy Road, which are earmarked as the new entrance to the development.The application by Lindat Limited — part of Dublinbased Harcourt Developments — has been with planners since the end of 2004, but has hit a series of legal and planning stumbling blocks, as well as massive opposition fromexisting businesses within the shopping centre. Planners have decided that the development would require a material contravention of the City Development Plan to rezone the Hibs’ lands, which are currently...