TAYLORS HILL RESIDENTS WANT ORAL HEARING ON MERCY SISTERS PLANS

Date Published: 02-Oct-2008

Residents of Devon Park in the city want An Bord Pleanála to hold an oral hearing to discuss plans by the Sisters of Mercy for the St. Anne's site at Taylors Hill.In August, Galway City Council gave the go-ahead to the Sisters to build 120 homes, a 5 storey apartment block, a creche and parking at the site close to Lenaboy Castle.The castle itself and its Gatelodge are protected structures and there is huge opposition to such a development on the site.There were over 70 objections to the plans as it went through the planning process at the city council and now there are numerous appeals lodged with An Bord PleanálaThere is now a call for an oral hearing so that inspectors from the Appeals Board can hear for themselves the concerns of local residents.Meanwhile, the Sisters of Mercy have also lodged a first party appeal in relation to the development at St. Anne's.They are contesting a condition imposed by the City Council stating that a Duplex unit must be left out of the development to provide more open space.