Waiving the fees for outdoor tables and chairs licences for Galway pubs, restaurants, and cafés will prove “meaningless for most businesses” unless additional space is acquired to allow for the social distancing which will still be mandatory during the summer.
This is the view of Social Democrats Galway City East councillor, Owen Hanley, who said NPHET “has been clear that we’re looking at an outdoor summer”, where restrictions will still not permit indoor gatherings. As a result he is calling on City Hall to be “proactive” and to plan for a summer which will “allow the city to re-open”, while still adhering to Covid-19 guidelines. For Cllr Hanley, this will require additional space and planning to make it happen.
.
In March, the Galway City Council announced it would waive fees for tables and chairs licences for the hospitality sector to the end of 2021, in order to help businesses operate under social distancing guidelines as the sector reopens. The waiver applies to both temporary and established licences, such as on Shop Street or Quay Street.
Cllr Hanley said the council needs to plan for a “summer worth looking forward to” and that “lessons must be learned” from the experiences of 2020. “The council must do better than it did last year to open up the public realm,” he said. “Other cities managed to create safe must-visit destinations by designating streets for outdoor dining and that must be on the table."
Measures to be taken
.
Social Democrats Galway City East councillor, Owen Hanley.
Cllr Hanley has called for a “more ambitious programme of works” to be delivered in 2021 that will allow people “move around safely and business operating outdoor services at a meaningful capacity”.
He said a number of measures can be taken to achieve more space to allow for both socialising and social distancing.
"The Council must seize opportunities to enhance infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists that will benefit the entire city, not just this year, but as we emerge out of this pandemic,” he said.
He also called for the prioritisation of the 10 pending cycle lanes due for the east and west sides of the city, and for the council to act on a variety of temporary projects that will also allow for re-opening of the city in a safe manner.
.
'European style' outdoor dining
Cllr Hanley said the announcement of a €17 million outdoor dining fund further emphasises the need for the council to create space outdoors across the city.
"This scheme will not only support individual businesses, but also local authorities, with grants worth up to €200,000 for investment in weatherproofing and outdoor dining infrastructure.," he said. "With this, the council will able to apply for funding under the scheme to upgrade streets and public spaces and implement weather-proofing solutions to facilitate year-round dining along the lines of those seen in European cities."
Other funding measures
Cllr Hanley said the extra central Government funding on active mobility measures should offer City Hall “increased scope” for 2021. Earlier this year, City Hall was allocated funding for up to 20 staff members to drive forward active mobility, cycling, walking and urban improvement projects. Cllr Hanley has called on the council to show councillors details of its plan to recruit such staff.
He also pointed to the successful Scoil Iognáid 'school street' project. “It demonstrates that with the right initiatives we can see long overdue improvements in how we move around our city,” he said.
The Social Democrats councillor said City Hall must not let “another summer pass us by”. “Society, community, and businesses need a second chance,” he said. “People need hope. The council has been given the chance to deliver it."
