The days of communities across the county rallying together to carry out enhancement projects in their own locality is fast coming to an end – over punishing health and safety regulations
A number of projects have ground to a halt in recent days following the intervention of the Health and Safety Authority.
These schemes, which include works like verge trimming, wall building, road widening and other village enhancement projects, are mainly funded locally, with the materials supplied by Galway County Council.
The Connacht Tribune has learned that HSA officers have insisted that such projects can now only be conducted by Galway County Council workers – even though the local authority is both cash-strapped and under-resourced in terms of outdoor employees.
A case in point is a road widening project in Kilcoona, organised by Caherlistrane Community Council. This was to make a stretch of road safer and, ironically, the job has been halted by the HSA.
Local independent Cllr Billy Connelly is understandably furious. He explained that they got grant assistance to carry out the works in association with Galway County Council.
“We were moving a ditch back along a kilometre of a dangerous stretch of road and we were going great guns until an officer from the Health and Safety Authority got involved.
“Most of those involved are honest and hardworking people who know exactly what they are doing but because they did not have certain certificates or documentation, they were deemed to be in contravention of health and safety regulations.
“This was a win-win situation for everyone. Most of the work was voluntary and it would have made a dangerous road much safer but suddenly bureaucracy kicked in and the job was stopped”, Cllr Connelly said.
He said there were similar schemes in the Monivea and Kilconly areas which were also affected and he believed that the intervention of the HSA in these Local Involvement Schemes will ultimately bring them to an end.
Fine Gael’s Cllr Pete Roche, who has financially supported a number of schemes in the Abbeyknockmoy and Tuam areas, is also extremely angry.
He said that he has been now informed by a senior official with Galway County Council that they will not be supplying materials for these schemes because of the potential insurance implications involved as a result of the latest HSA intervention.
“This has serious implications for every voluntary scheme across the county and it is a disgrace in my opinion.
“There are people more than willing to help out their communities and do so in a very safe and responsible manner and they are now effectively being told that they are not wanted.
“These schemes are the lifeblood of rural communities across County Galway and now they have effectively come to an end. Galway County Council obviously do not have the resources to carry them out themselves,” he added.
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