Galway Advertiser 1988/1988_05_19/GA_19051988_E1_007.pdf 

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Council Unhappy with Restrictions on Rural Homes
City 'Councillors got bogged d o w n in t h e i r review o f t h e Draft Development Plan on Monday, trying to decide o n the adequacy of allowing one a c r e per each new house in the far flung fields o f the new County B o r o u g h . T h e i r diffi culty w a s largely o n e of semantics. The Councillors worried for almost Vi hours over wording in the Draft Plan which would allow members of the immediate householders in those areas zoned 'agriculture' to build a house adjacent to the family home on a site not less than one acre. Several Councillors, however, objected. Cllr. Micheal O hUiginn believed such a restric tion would put "tremen dous pressure" on the Council to consider individual cases which he could foresee would result in the introduction of S e c t i o n 4's - where a majority on the Council could direct the Manager to comply with their wishes - which be did not want to sec happen. Deputy Robert Molloy thought that one acre was too restrictive and it should be more flexible. The County Manager

Theatre P l a n a n d Spanish A r c h d e v e l o p m e n t goes public . . .
Galway Corpora tion on Friday last, formally invited proposals for the development of its half acre site at Spanish Arch to include the provision of a Musical T h e a t r e , t h e e x t e n s i o n of t h e City Museum at Comerford House a n d the development of Fishmarket Square. The Spanish Arch, is an important historical and tourist element of Galway city. The Corporation's intention is that the character of the area, and in particular its historic and tourist aspects, should be given due consideration in the development of the area, that it should become a place of major public resort, and that a balance be struck between the civic and amenity aspects the City. "In all planning d e c i s i o n s " , he s a i d , "some people gain and some people lose". But Deputy Molloy pressed home his case that there were occasions when a half-acre or a quarter acre was suffi cient for a house for many people. The Council directed the Planning Officer to re-examine the map and to outline areas where smaller sites would satisfy the needs of the City. of the site and its commercial development. The Corporation has invited prospective developers to submit architectural design proposals and an accompanying financial package, in accordance with its development brief, for consideration on a competitive basis. The brief calls for: /. The provision of a flexible Municipal Theatre to accommodate an audience of 359/iOO persons at Merchant's Road Lower and Long Walk. 2. The refurbishment and extension of Comerford House as the City Museum. 3. The development of buildings along Fishmarket Square to provide commercial and residen tial accommodation including suck uses as a pub, restaurant, and other facilities. 4. Tke repaving and development of Fishmarket Square as a civic space in conjunction with the new river walk along tke Corrib. 5. Tke provision of a link road from Lower Merckant's Road to Spanish Parade. The Corporation's aim is to attract a high quality design for the site, a p p r o p r i a t e to its situation, which will provide resources to the c i t y o f G a l w a y at

ROYAL

DESIGN

FURNITURE, CARPETS AND BEDDING

HEADFORD ROAD, GALWAY
LARGE SELECTION O F 3-PIECE SUITES IN V A R I O U S C O L O U R S

Mr. Seamus Keating pointed out that when the City was expanding its territory, to establish its County Borough status, it took over the extra land to allow for future City expansion. He felt it would be unwise to put in a liberal provision which would encourage people to go out and live in the 'Country'. He believed that loose ribbon devel opment would be a hindrance to an expand ing City. And there would be real problems if the new householders objected to encroaching factories or h o u s i n g estates. Planning Officer Mr. John Roche said the oneacre per house provision was a brake to try and stop people moving out of

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Tel. (091) 65755
reasonable cost. The site lies within the Desig nated Area under the F i n a n c e and U r b a n Renewal Acts and it is the Corporation's expecta tion that by availing of these incentives prospec tive developers will be a b l e to p r o d u c e a comprehensive financial package for the develop ment.

LINDA HEFFERNAN Lic.Ac. (U.K.)
TRADITIONAL ACUPUNCTURE PRACTITIONER will resume practice FRIDAY, 20lh MAY A T 57 TIRELLAN HEIGHTS, G A L W A Y Tel. (091) 61676

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