Heritage body An Taisce has queried plans by Boston Scientific to build two new carparks at its Ballybrit campus, while Galway County Council has also raised concerns.
The medical devices manufacturer, which employs almost 5,000 people across the region, has submitted plans to Galway City Council for two new surface car parks totalling 550 parking spaces close to its second, 3,700 square metre clean room facility.
In a 16-page submission, An Taisce’s Galway branch recognised Boston’s huge contribution to employment, and welcomed its growth plans. It called on the local authority to demand Boston Scientific provide further information on how it calculated the ‘Traffic and Transport Assessment’ in its planning application. Specifically, whether it analysed traffic congestion at peak times, such as during rush hour and shift changes.
“The problem here is that mass congestion delays buses, so no one wants to run a bus in Ballybrit, never mind catch one,” says Galway An Taisce spokesman, Peter Butler. “Boston, to be fair, is taking matters into its own hands because the [transport agencies and local authorities] have done nothing. What is needed is bus lanes on both sides of the road through Ballybrit, not building up to the edge of the road.”
A letter from Galway County Council points out that although Boston Scientific’s new carpark does not interfere with an area earmarked for works necessary to construct the proposed N6 Galway City Ring Road, the proposal does conflict with the “overarching planning strategy and policies under which [the ring road] has been developed,” including the Galway City Development Plan and Galway Transport Strategy.
Boston Scientific’s proposed new car park is on land next to its Building 2, with potential road access from the Tuam Road through Ballybane Industrial Estate, and from Bothar na dTreabh via Ballybrit Business Park. The company is also seeking permission to remove a line of trees, erect new fencing, build secure motorbike and bicycle storage, and improve landscaping.
Boston Scientific has surface car parking for more than 1,200 cars, and is understood to rent land nearby for more. Its current arrangement forces commuters to park near Building 1, and then make a ten minute walk to Buiding 2.
“We have to connect the dots,” said Mr Butler. “Dexcom moved to Athenry because transport is impossible in Galway city. Gort is beginning to win investment because of the train. Employers want offices in Knocknacarra because people they want to hire want to live near where they work.”
In its submission on Boston’s carparks, An Taisce points out that despite Iarnród Éireann building a new train station in Oranmore nine years ago, there is still no bus from the station to mass employers in the city’s eastern district.
Meanwhile, Boston Scientific agreed to buy medical device firm Axionics last month for $3.7 billion. The move marks Boston’s first foray into minimally invasive devices for the bladder, similar to its stents made in Galway for clogged arteries.
