Concerns have been raised about a lack of amenities and road safety on the Letteragh Road in Galway City, where there are hundreds of homes already built or in development.
Plans are either under consideration, or have been approved, for multiple large scale residential developments along the Letteragh Road in recent years.
Adrian Curran of People Before Profit for Galway City Central said that this is an example of the “pitfalls of developer-led planning”, and more road safety features and amenities are needed for such a growing area.
“Residents along the Letteragh Road have expressed concerns to me about the footpaths and road safety in the area.”
“This is an area that has had lots of new houses built along it. It has a growing population including many young families.”
“The road itself has seen no improvements to cater for the increased population. There are footpaths and street lights only on some portions of the road. It is currently not served by public transport and has no cycle lanes.”
He said that the abdication of responsibility for providing housing by the state to private developers has led to large numbers of homes being built in areas that are not equipped to handle them.
“Where developers are granted permission to build estates, it should come with an obligation on them to ensure there are adequate pedestrian, cyclist and motorist safety features in the area.”
“Providing the likes of footpaths, street lights, cycle lanes and public transport is not a lot to ask, but residents of Letteragh Road are being failed in this regard.”
Some of the housing developments approved or under consideration along the Letteragh in recent years include the green-lighting of 82 houses and apartments by Burkeway Homes on land north of the existing Fánán housing estate last September.
The city council is also currently considering plans by Cairn Homes Ltd for 148 houses and apartments off the Letteragh Road.
