Cllr Donal Lyons says a bus service is urgently needed for residents of the Upper Ballymoneen Road.
This week Cllr Lyons forwarded a motion for the March meeting of the Galway City Council requesting the Galway City Council to enter immediate discussions with relevant land owners on the Upper Ballymoneen Road.
“This i to acquire sufficient lands by negotiation or by compulsory purchase order so that a bus turning bay can be installed which will permit a bus service operation on the Upper Ballymoneen Road serving the following estates; Slí Burca, Leitir Burca, Leas na Mara, Drisín, Maoilín, Slí Gheal, Fana Buí, Radharc na Farraige, Magh Burca, Ard Cre and a number of other estates now in construction and further developments due to take place on Ballymoneen Road in the future”, the motion states.
Cllr Lyons wants the Galway City Council to assist local residents. “A licence to operate a bus service on Upper Ballymoneen Road has been issued by the National Transport Authority however the service operator has ceased the service as there are no turning facilities on the road and there is a safety issue of buses having to reverse into estates,” he says.
“There is a large number of people now residing on the Upper Ballymoneen Road and with the recent completion of the Ard Cre and Clairín estates together with the latest O’Malley Construction Development of more than 200 homes and a further development by Galway City Council of 73 homes, there is an urgent need for a bus operation to service the area.”
Discussions between Cllr Lyons, Deputy Noel Grealish and representatives of Bus Eireann and City Direct have been held to explore the possibility of introducing a service to the area north of the Blake Roundabout.
“The issue still outstanding is the non existence of a turning bay which will permit buses to safely turn on the road which has become a very busy thoroughfare,” Cllr Lyons says.
“I am confident that the National Transport Authority will cover the cost of the acquisition of the land required to provide a bus turning bay so that a much needed service can be provided for the people of the Upper Ballymoneen Road.
He concluded: “I will be seeking the support of councillors when this Notion of Motion is debated at the next meeting of the Galway City Council.”
