The Bearna area is not suitable for development as a metropolitan area of Galway City. In contrast to Baile Chlár and Oranmore, the site is geographically constrained. Services are limited - the primary school is already oversubscribed. There is no secondary school in the village. The R336 is seriously congested, with traffic jams stretching for many kilometres on either side of the village at peak commuter times. Traffic jams also occur at week-ends in summer especially when the Irish Colleges are open.
Many Galway towns and villages are derelict. They contain unoccupied buildings located near services. There is a housing shortage and younger people are locked out of the housing market. There is also a massive shortage of medium to long-term rental properties.
Galway County Council needs to
1. Implement the derelict buildings act. A few high profile cases might get things moving and encourage property owners to sell their derelict premises.
2. Abandoned retail/business premises located in towns and villages should be considered for repurposing as residential property. The council needs to be more flexible in this regard.
3. The short-term 'Air B&B' type of rental arrangements are having a very detrimental effect on the ability of young workers (especially in picturesque towns and villages) to embark on medium or long term renting. Galway County Council need to implement the existing legislation in relation to short term rentals.
Climate change is happening. The sea level is rising and flooding is becoming more common. Habitats along all of our coastline are under threat. Planning permission should be curbed close to the shore and also by rivers and lakes. In Cois Fharraige, pension funds and big business have become involved in purchasing houses and their adjoining lands built in scenic areas. Once a house is plonked in a scenic spot, the natural heritage is lost forever.
The cycling greenway is badly needed through East Galway and also through Connemara. This should be primarily for the people of these areas to assist local transport.