The outdoor dining and pedestrianisation measures in Galway city should not come to an end on September 30, but instead should be extended to Christmas.
This is the view of Social Democrats Galway City East councillor, Owen Hanley, who said the measures introduced to allow dining, drinking, and socialising to take place, must become “part of a broader vision” for a Galway that is “open, people orientated, and family friendly”.
"Galway was the place to be this summer,” said Cllr Hanley. “Measures implemented by Galway City Council helped many businesses expand their capacity outdoors while creating much needed pedestrian destination spots on Cross Street and Dominick Street. The Council team on the ground worked very well to manage the dynamic situation. To go backwards now would be a mistake."
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This week the Government announced various measures that will allow for greater numbers of people to take part in indoor activities. However, full capacity for indoors is still some way off, although the Government is considering ending almost all Covid-19 restrictions by October 22. However masks are still likely to be required in the health and retail sectors and on public transport.
All this is contingent on Covid-19 cases remaining manageable. As it stands, Covid figures are on the rise again and hospital admissions increasing. With the general rise in respiratory illnesses during the winter months, some public health measures and restrictions may still be needed during the winter months.
Whatever happens, Cllr Hanley [pictured below] believes Galway should not lose the "positive changes we've made", and that local businesses need to be offered “as much capacity as possible”. While the poorer weather in the winter will see a drop in the numbers availing of outdoor dining, etc, he does not see this as a reason not to trial such an initiative.
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"Let's replace the rhetoric around the seasonal nature of outdoor dining or other outdoor activities in Galway and use this as a chance to get meaningful evidence across a range of locations and businesses,” he said.
'We need a positive legacy from the last two years, and the improved use of space in our city centre can be just that'
“That will be crucial for the city to be able to put in place a long-term infrastructure plan rooted in evidence that works all year round. There's also a chance to capitalise on any latent tourism as people get comfortable making trips again."
However, Cllr Hanley said lessons must also be learned from how the outdoor measures have been implemented so far.
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"There are issues around disability accessibility, impact on nearby residents, locations for the outdoor dining, and the need for a holistic provision of services to ensure we can create a welcoming atmosphere in the city centre,” he said.
Cllr Hanley is calling on the city council to review the “success and challenges” of the outdoor measures, and to plan for long-term pedestrianisation and mobility measures in the city. "We need a positive legacy from the last two years,” he said, “and the improved use of space in our city centre can be just that."
