CONCERNS for the survival of a rare plant growing in a local bog could scupper plans to finally build the Galway city outer bypass, a project supporters say is essential to safeguard business and commercial life in the west of Ireland capital. Advocates of the 330m transport initiative which has been in the planning for over a decade say it will transform the city by dramatically reducing traffic congestion, and cut the journey times from Dublin to the west coast by up to an hour. However concerns are rising that conservationists may appeal for intervention from the EU in Brussels if the proposed roadway gets the go ahead.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has expressed concern to An Bord Pleanala at the impact the bypass will have on the rare and legally protected slender cotton grass plant growing in adjacent Tonabrocky bog. The conservation body also asserts that the new roadway will have a 'significant impact' on two hectares of limestone in the Menlo area and that the planning board would be acting beyond its remit were it to approve the project as outlined by the National Roads Authority.
Galway West TD and chairman of the Oireachtas joint committee on transport, Frank Fahey, believes it's unacceptable that two state agencies should end up arguing opposing points of view to An Bord Pleanala.
"It's the first time this has happened, " he says. "The point is that very significant efforts were made by the consultants and by Galway County Council to accommodate the concerns of the NPWS. Every effort was made. If there is any question of a possible appeal to Brussels by the NPWS then a solution should be found between the agencies without that step being taken.
"It's absolutely critical to Galway and to the Connemara region that the bypass is built, " he says. "Commercial life is stagnant in the city primarily because of traffic congestion.
It's taking an hour at peak times to simply cross the city, a journey that should take 10 minutes. People are opting to shop elsewhere. At the same time the tourism industry in Connemara is very seriously affected by the fact that it takes five hours to travel from Dublin. Every day Galway's mediaeval streets are clogged up with traffic. The bypass will go round the city on the east side and link up with the main road to Connemara including the N59 to Clifden and the coast road to the Gaeltacht. It will transform the situation and provide a great boost to the region."
"Some people are inclined to regard the city itself as a destination, and ask 'well, why would you want to bypass it?'" says Galway chamber of commerce chief executive officer, Michael Coyle. "In fact two things have become obvious. We're now starting to experience gridlock conditions similar to Dublin and western areas of the county which are striving for economic development in their own right are losing out due to inaccessibility."
The Department of Transport plans make 250,000 available for the conducting of a feasibility study into transport in Galway which is expected to look at upgrading the bus service as well as the possibility of building a light rail system.
Transport researcher, Brian Guckian, has made a presentation to the city council arguing in favour of a rail system as an alternative to the bypass. Guckian claims a 20km light rail track traversing the city from east to west and with a central spur into Eyre Square could be put in place in less than three years.
"Because of problems getting Luas up and running people associate light rail with digging up the streets. But this proposal would cause minimum disruption. Most of the construction would be offstreet and only the north side of Eyre Square, a distance of about 800 metres, would have to be dug up.
"Light rail would offer tremendous advantages to traders and commercial interests in Galway. It has a traffic calming effect and it also leads to an increase in land values.
Sunday Tribune
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