Council publishes notice on Palace right of way

By SIOBHÃÂN HOLLIMAN GALWAY Co Council is this week publishing a public notice regarding its proposal to extinguish the public right of way from Bishop Street to the new inner-relief road in Tuam. The proposal has caused controversy in recent weeks and a peaceful protest was held in Tuam last week by a group campaigning to retain the public right of way.[private] About 150 people gathered and listened to speakers and music at the Bishop Street car park last Friday evening. People also joined hands to form a human chain through the SuperValu car park to express their disappointment and anger at the removal of the old road. The Restore Our Palace Road group was formed a few weeks ago and is calling on local councillors to vote against extinguishing the public right of way. In May 2011, councillors voted in favour of a land swap between Galway Co Council and Joe and Helen O'Toole, owners of SuperValu Tuam, and of extinguishing the right of way. The plan to extinguish the right of way is being advertised by the local authority this week. A copy of a map indicating the public right of way will be made available for inspection from this Friday, July 27 until Friday, August 31 at County Hall in Galway and at the Tuam Electoral Area Office on High Street in Tuam. Members of the public can now make objections or representations in relation to the proposed extinguishment of the right of way. People can also make a written request to have their case heard at an oral hearing. The map can also be downloaded from the Council's website at www.galway.ie. After the Council receives input from the public the information will be collated into a report and put before a full meeting of Galway Co councillors where members will be asked to take a vote on the proposal. There is no date set as yet for this vote. One of those leading the campaign for the retention of the right of way is former school principal Kevin O'Dwyer. Speaking to The Tuam Herald at Friday's gathering he stressed that the group 'had no beef with SuperValu staff and businesses. We are not in favour of any boycott and want ­people to shop in and support Tuam. 'We are here to have the right of way to the Palace Grounds maintained for all and to ensure the provision of safe and easy access for people moving north and south of the town.' He accepted that when councillors agreed last May to a land swap, questions should have been asked about what would happen if the retail development didn't go ahead. Given that the country was in recession, he said councillors should have sought more assurances on the matter. Speaking on behalf of the group, TP Niland said planning permission should have been sought for the expansion of the SuperValu car park and that would have allowed the public to make submissions on what was going on. The group is now asking people to contact their local Co councillors about the issue before they take a vote on the right of way. While the group don't forsee meeting directly with Council officials they intend to meet with the Town Councillors who, they say, will represent their views and concerns at a meeting with area councillors and council representatives. In 2010 planning permission was granted by An Bord Pléanála to Joe O'Toole for a supermarket, retail, hotel and nursing home development on a nine-acre site in the town centre. The development also included the construction of a section of the inner-relief road. The land swap and right-of-way agreement was to allow work start on the new road and to provide for the proposed development. The inner-relief road, linking Bishop Street with Shop Street, was paid for by Mr O'Toole and opened just before Christmas. It had been thought that work might begin on the supermarket project once the new inner-relief road, also part of the overall planning permission, was complete. The development was not to be built all at once and four phases were originally planned. The first would be the construction of the road and the second would be building the new supermarket and department store. However, in January, as reported in The Tuam Herald, Mr O'Toole confirmed he was forced to put the development on hold because of the economic downturn. He said in the meantime he would completely rennovate the exisiting store. During these renovations and the construction of the relief road, the old Palace Road was removed and the SuperValu car park was substantially expanded. Representatives from local schools expressed serious concern about the change and its impact on the safety of students and others scrossing through the car park to get to the Presentation College, the swimming pool and park. Principal of St Patrick's NS in Tuam Steve Lane said there was a huge amount of anger regarding the destruction of the Palace Road and the construction of a gigantic car park. 'We met with the architects and representatives from the Council and pointed out the problems with safety and they said they'd get back to us, but no one did,' he remarked. Last week changes were carried out to the layout of the carpark and raised footpaths with guard rails were installed from the corner of the old Community Centre to the path at the inner-relief road. A new marked roadway has also been provided, dividing the large car park in two. Mr O'Toole has previously stated that he believes the recent changes provide a safe route for pedestrians, customers and motorists. 'I believe these works will result in a much safer and user-friendly car park for everyone and provide safe access in and out for pedestrians and motorists,' added the Tuam businessman.[/private]