An angry group of Knocknacarra residents are calling on the Galway City Council to clarify details on a proposed traveller halting site on Ballymoneen Road, which they say contradicts the 2007 council’s framework study of the area.
The group, the Ballymoneen-Clybaun Action Group, claims that the eight-acre €10 million site owned by the council has the potential to accommodate more developments than the proposed halting site outlined in the Draft Traveller Accommodation Plan 2009 - 2013.
The BCAG have voiced their disapproval with the high percentage of social and affordable units planned for the Ballymoneen Road, with 47 per cent of new houses under the housing capital programme planned for the Knocknacarra site.
Independent Cllr Donal Lyons has come out in support of the residents and has called for the council to back down on their halting site plan.
“We should be looking at the long-term housing needs of the traveller community and provide them with fixed term houses,” he said. “They might not be in favour of that, but as far as I’m concerned halting sites are a failed concept. It’s a quick fix.”
The council has identified three sites in the west of the city. At Monday’s city council meeting, one of these potential sites was given to Macnas for new workshops for the company. This leaves Cappagh Road and Ballymoneen Road as the only possible sites.
Catherine Keane, a member of the action group is infuriated by the Council’s plans and has echoed the calls from Cllr. Lyons for a strategical re-think.
“Upon the purchase of this land our local councillors assured us that they would be earmarked for social and affordable housing,” she said. “These same councillors also demanded that proper amenities and services would be in place prior to any development taking place. In keeping with this plan any Traveller accommodation should be in the form of a residential housing scheme that would foster sustainable social housing communities.”
