A planned expansion of a Maxol filling station in Whitestrand has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála by local residents.
Maxol secured planning permission from the city council to demolish outbuildings at the filling station on the corner of the Lower Salthill and Fr Griffin roads and build an extension in its place.
The new extension would consist of a deli with seating, complete with its own food preparation area, and a new off licence.
Another highly controversial aspect of the project is the plan to remove the existing car wash and replace it with a new one relocated to the north east end of the station
Other less serious work would include alterations to the existing store layout, new aluminium glazed shopfronts, rendered wall covering and corporate branding.
The project proved highly controversial with 23 objections made to the city council saying that the expansion would bring increased traffic which the area is not equipped to handle.
Local residents said that without any new parking included it would lead to more on street parking and pose a traffic hazard to children walking to several schools in the area.
Concerns were also expressed about the potential for anti-social behaviour due to the new off licence, and noise complaints about the filling station car wash.
Maxol told the city council in response that the off licence would be small and unobtrusive, and the new car wash would actually be quieter than the one that’s currently there.
The plans show it housed in a a noise attenuation enclosure, and state that it would not operate any later than 10pm.
Galway city council ultimately granted planning permission for the project last month, and an appeal was lodged against that decision by local residents on June 10.
An Bord Pleanála is due to make a ruling on this case by October 14.
