Legal challenge continues as protest car parked on site of new road

By JACQUELINE HOGGE A LEGAL challenge to disputed lands involved in the construction of Tuam's inner relief road is continuing with a private car being parked in the path of the construction site in recent days. [private] Work is under way on the €1.1m thoroughfare that will link Shop Street at the junction with Foster Place, to Bishop Street at Park View Drive. However, a section of the proposed route at Waterslade House on Shop Street is the subject of a legal challenge involving Galway Co Council, which maintains the land is public and the owners of the property, who argue the land concerned belongs to them. Karen Hughes, who bought Waterslade House in recent years, declined to comment on the precise nature of her challenge but said she was hopeful a resolution could be found in the short term. 'The matter is being dealt with by my legal representatives who are liaising directly with the council's legal people,' she said. 'I don't want to jeopardise these negotiations by commenting directly on the legal issues but I'm not opposed to the road, subject to certain legal conditions being met.' Ms Hughes said she had yet to decide on whether to remove the car from the construction site, but insisted the matter could and should have been resolved before construction work began. â€ËœUnfortunate timing' 'It's unfortunate timing that this is all being dealt with now, after construction work has begun, but I'm hopeful a satisfactory resolution can be reached in the short term.' The disputed land includes distinctive pillars at the front of the property, as well as ornate gates that have been removed in recent weeks. The matter was raised at this month's meeting of Tuam Town Council where members queried whether the dispute could hold up work on the road. Cllr Paul O'Grady said the car was holding the place to ransom and urged council officials to move to resolve the dispute as it was making the town look ridiculous. 'The car is not holding up work on the road and this is an issue that will be dealt with privately between the landowner and Galway County Council,' said Town Manager Frank Gilmore, who confirmed negations are continuing to try to reach a solution to the issue. Meanwhile, it has emerged that despite a scheduled completion date of early December, a traffic management system has yet to be finalised for the new road. Mr Gilmore was asked at the council meeting what the arrangements would be on Foster Place, which is a one-way system, after the new road was completed. 'The inner relief road will be a two-way system but I am not yet sure what traffic management systems will be introduced where the road intersects with Shop Street,' he said. [/private]