It is "bad planning" to have two major swimming pools in the west side of the city, while leaving the eastern side "crying out for facilities".
This is the view of Independent Galway City Central councillor, Mike Cubbard, who has raised concerns over the proposed new swimming pool for Cappagh Road, which is earmarked as a regional aqua, leisure, and watersports centre.
The proposed centre was debated at Monday's Galway City Council meeting, where councillors overwhelmingly voted to move the project on to the next phase of the planning process. Cllr Cubbard, in his last meeting as Mayor of Galway City, was the only councillor to vote against.
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While Cllr Cubbard accepted his defeat, he said his concerns over the planning, costs, and running of the proposed centre remain, and that they should still be addressed as the project progresses. "I have always supported new sports facilities and believe we need more in every area, but there is a way to do business and legitimate concerns I have remain unanswered," he said.
The total cost of the project is €17 million. More than €8 million towards the project has been granted by the Government, and there is also a potential €1 million from private investors. However, this leaves €9.1 million to be raised by the Galway City Council.
'I am concerned about allowing private companies operate public facilities and what may happen to local groups, sports clubs and residents if this is a policy we adopt'
Cllr Cubbard said it was "bad planning" to place major swimming pools on the west side of the city when the east of the city remained without any such facilities. He also said, given that the council runs Leisureland, how could councillors "vote to damage our own pool while giving away public lands not so far away and allowing a private company operate a competitive facility?"
In response, council officials stated they had spoken to staff and that it would have little to no effect on Leisureland. Cllr Cubbard was not convinced by this, and proceeded to raise concerns over the running of the centre.
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Cllr Cubbard noted that, in the document on the project presented to councillors, it stated that the council would give up the right to manage the 5G pitch and clubhouse in the area. "Handing over the running of public facilities to private operators is a terrible precedent to set in my view," he said. "I am concerned about allowing private companies operate public facilities and what may happen to local groups, sports clubs and residents if this is a policy we adopt."
He also said a number of sports developments at Corrib Park, Doughiska Park, South Park and Miller's Lane remain ongoing and are "crying out for development".
"Why we are looking to leapfrog these developments when residents and clubs in these areas are frustrated with the lack of urgency in their localities?" Mayor Cubbard asked. "We need fairness and those areas have gone through a process and waiting years. Yet all of a sudden we can raise a €9.1 million loan for a new project? Let's finish the ones in train first."
