Plans for the nesting ledges of peregrine falcon and the flight paths of bats have been drawn up, yet there is little information as to how people will find new homes after their houses are demolished, the An Bord Pleanala oral hearing into the Galway City Ring Road was told yesterday (Wednesday ) afternoon.
In this, the last of the three modules of the hearing held remotely, inspectors heard submission to the Compulsory Purchase Order stage and it was no surprise that residents whose houses are being demolished were the most vocal in raising their concerns.
Ballindooley resident Sharon Morris told the hearing that there has not been any in-depth study of the psychological impact on her family and her neighbours who are set to lose their houses under the scheme. She challenged the conclusion of the psychological evaluation of the applicants which stated that homeowners will be worried and stressed but that in time they will get over it and move on to live fulfilling lives elsewhere.
“This is in stark contrast to the in-depth studies as to where the peregrine falcon and the bats and owls will live, but nothing of that scale for humans. How can they assess the psychological impacts on myself, my husband and my children and our distressed elderly neighbours? They have not visited to make an assessment.
“The only ones who came to my house were a team of bat experts. The people of the area have been washed out in the data. I was in tears listening to my elderly neighbours yesterday talk about what lies ahead of them at a time when they should be enjoying their lives.
Earlier, the hearing heard from Ballindooley residents Loretta Needham and Tom Rea who are set to lose their home if the road goes ahead. They both spoke of the difficulties they will encounter once their home is demolished.
“We cannot get a mortgage at this stage of our lives, so we face being financially destitute, as well as losing our home, our friends, and our neighbours,” said Mr Rea.
“Everything thinks that we are going to get a fortune and that we will just move on, but the money we have been offered would not buy you a house in the cheapest estate in the city. We are being thrown into the current housing crisis and there are few matching properties on the market,” he said, adding that all the residents affected are collateral damage in the grand scheme of things.
Ms Needham told the hearing that their life has been thrown into a spin as they were cast into an unfamiliar world of public inquiries and legalese.
“I am fighting for my home and my sanctuary. My idyllic life has unravelled. No matter how one loses a home is a major trauma as we will never forget the happy memories we have of living here. there should be no accounting for you house being demolished by the State. I hope that by telling my story we might start to change the narraitive. Maybe no future generation should have to go though this.
“The bigger players, the big factories, the races, the university, they all have their deals done
On Tuesday, Menlo resident Dee Goggins told the hearing that she is distraught that they are set to lose their homes after a lifetime of hard work.
“The races, the university and even the bats are all getting an equivalent reinstatement. Why are we not being offered the same?
“The psychological impact is a new reality and has been enormous. The doctor who determined the psychological conclusion for the applicant has not met any of those who are affected. His analysis is categorically incorrect. Our health has deteriorated and cannot be regained. My blood pressure went to 201/113,” she said.
In response, Jarlath Fitzsimons for the applicant said he accepted that there is massive psychological impact on those who will lose their homes, but he noted that of the 54 houses to be demolished, that the owners of only 27 of those are still objecting.
