Significant progress is due to be made on proposals for a new improved road from Galway city to Connemara, which if successful could lead to a reduction in the number of lands that are “frozen” prohibiting many families along the route getting planning permission.
Welcoming the progress Fine Gael Galway county councillor Séan Kyne said that he has been informed by the director of services and transportation that a meeting has taken place recently with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS ) regarding the planning of the new road to Connemara to replace the existing R336 coast road. The council is now ready to present its case to the European Commission within the next four weeks to assess options of the road going through special areas of conservation (SAC ). It is hoped that this progress could lead to families along that route receiving planning permission more easily.
Cllr Kyne explained: “A senior official of the NPWS has stated that the county council have put forward a good and persuasive case for a new road... A response from the European Commission is due shortly after that. Depending on the response the council will make a presentation to Connemara councillors to decide on route options and whether some of the present routes along Cois Fharraige should be lifted.
“The NPWS officials have acknowledged the concerns about the importance of the Irish language, the splitting of communities, and the over-riding importance of a new route in their deliberations. The commission may tell the council that it should proceed with a case for the road based on IROPI - imperative reason for over-riding public interest - when making a case for the road but may still require that any route chosen avoid the SAC as much as possible.
“I welcome the fact that the decision on the next steps will be taken soon and hope that a lesser number of routes may be decided upon to allow the freeing up of lands for planning for affected families whose family lands are presently frozen from planning.”
