Planners have agreed to meet with Bowling Green residents to discuss a proposed major development that could transform the area.
The city centre residents want to discuss what is planned for the Connacht Tribune building on Market Street, and what implications it has for Bowling Green.
Galway City Council had initially declined to meet the residents’ association but senior planner Caroline Phelan has acceded to another request made by Fianna Fáil City Councillor Ollie Crowe on their behalf.
“I can confirm a meeting between residents and planners will take place in the next fortnight,” said Cllr Crowe.
In April, plans were unveiled for a hotel and indoor food hall on the combined Market Street car park and Connacht Tribune sites.
The plans also included a 120-space car park.
Developer Michael Maye’s Royal Horizon Ltd, which acquired the car park in 2015, and agreed the purchase of the Connacht Tribune building earlier this year, has already had consultations with residents. The developers also held pre-planning discussions with planners. However, residents also wanted to meet with planners about the overall plan for the area.
Secretary of the Bowling Green Residents Association, Nuala Nolan, who is also on the City Council Planning SPC, said residents want an input into the future of their area.
“Residents should not be left in the dark with regard to major developments in any historical residential area,” said Ms Nolan, the former Labour Party City Councillor.
“The planners tell us that we, the residents, can have our meeting when the planning application is lodged, not before. Then we can make our objections. But all the residents want is an input – they may or may not go down the road of objecting. All they really want is an area plan for the development of Bowling Green, and some input into that,” said Ms Nolan.
Councillor Crowe, who this week got confirmation that a meeting would take place, said some of the issues may not relate to planning.
“To be honest with you, the people of Bowling Green feel a bit neglected by the Council. They’ve been promised CCTV and they’ve been waiting for CCTV and they will get it but things just move slowly in the Council.
“They have already met with Oisín O’Brien, a representative of the developers, and all they want now is to meet with planners to have their say as well. I can assure you the meeting will go ahead,” added Cllr Crowe.
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