Independent Councillor Terry O’Flaherty has demanded progress from Galway City Council on installing a changing shelter at Ballyloughane Beach — for which she secured funding a full three years ago, but which still has not been provided.
“It’s gone beyond ridiculous at this stage that we are still waiting for a much-need facility for which I managed to secure €40,000 funding in the City Council’s Budget for 2021, particularly as several other projects that were included in the same budget have been constructed long before now,” she said.
Councillor O’Flaherty raised the issue yet again in the form of a motion tabled at a recent meeting of the City Council, calling for the immediate installation of the changing facility. The motion secured the unanimous backing of her fellow members of the council.
“I have been receiving complaints for a long time now from swimmers and other beach users that they have no option but to undress out in the open or at the boot of their car.
“Obviously it is worse when it is raining, and many of the complaints I have been receiving are from wheelchair users and older people with infirmities who have to endure their clothes getting soaked in heavy downpours, which is very uncomfortable for anyone,” she said.
“Ballyloughane Beach is very popular all year round with people living on the east side of the city, and with visitors to the area during the Summer. It is not acceptable that it is treated as the poor relation when another city beach has much better shelter and changing facilities.
“As everyone knows, there has been an upsurge in recent years in sea swimming at all times of the year, so the demand for a basic sheltered changing facility is even greater today than it was when I secured the funding for it three years ago,” she added.
“My colleagues on the Council have given their backing to my motion demanding immediate action. This has gone for far too long, and I am calling on City Council officials to progress this project immediately,” added Councillor O’Flaherty.
