The popular Green area in Corrib Park looks set to be protected from any development as Labour councillors will seek to have the land rezoned following legal advice.
In April there was uproar locally and from councillors over proposals to build houses on the popular green area. An unsigned letter emanating from City Hall was delivered to some residents of Corrib Park giving details of a meeting to discuss the building of six new houses on part of the park.
A re-zoning motion was proposed at the next city council meeting but the city manager Joe MacGrath sought legal advice. That advice has now confirmed the right of councillors to instruct the city manager Joe McGrath to begin a variation to the Galway City Development Plan 2005 - 2011.
Labour councillor and chair of the Galway City Council Housing Strategic Policy Committee, Colette Connolly, has welcomed the legal advice. She the other Labour councillors will call on the city manager to rezone lands in Corrib Park from Residential to Recreational Amenity, consistent with adjacent RA zoned lands, at the next council meeting in October.
Cllr Connolly is confident she will get the backing of her fellow councillors. Provided her motion succeeds, a public consultation process will begin and the matter will be brought back before councillors for a final decision.
“I am delighted residents in Corrib Park have been able to use the democratic process of elected representation to bring about this policy change,” she said. “While there is a housing crisis, the proposed location of housing on this green area could not be justified.”
