Galway Bay fm - News

Blueprint for future of Athenry branded ”bad plan” over housing concerns

A blueprint for the development of Athenry over the next 7 years is being branded a "bad plan". 
Councillor Shelly Herterich-Quinn is not happy with the Draft Athenry Local Area Plan, which would run until 2029. 
It's a strategy created by Galway County Council for the sustainable development of lands in the town. 
It looks at many aspects of development, including housing, public transport, community facilities, public spaces, heritage conservation, and development standards.
But Councillor Herterich-Quinn has serious concerns - including how lands for housing and the incompleted ring road are handled in the plan. 
She told me that the footprint of the new plan is smaller than the previous plan - and that's something she's worried about. 

HSE agrees to install barrier at back of Merlin Park to tackle rat-running

Galway IFA rep highlights severity of nitrate limits at picket line at Department of Agriculture

School bus service for Kilcoona Bunatober to return Monday after schoolchildren left without service

A bus serving pupils in the Kilcoona and Bunatober areas is to return on Monday following a week of transport disruption.
Over 40 children were left without a bus to Presentation College Headford this week due to driver shortages.
Despite securing bus tickets, parents received emails a week before the start of term saying Bus Éireann did not have a service for the area.
Councillor Andrew Reddington explains how they managed to get the service back running:
 

Galway public urged to donate blood as supplies run low

The Galway public are being urged to donate blood as supplies run low across the country. 
The Irish Blood Transfusion Board says it aims to have seven days of stock on hand at all times - but in some areas, they're down to two days. 
A blood donation event is taking place at the Menlo Park Hotel in the city this afternoon from 4pm.
Appointments can be made by calling freephone 1800 222 111.
Speaking to Galway Talks,  Director of Operations Paul McKinney said they're particularly looking for certain types of blood.

Galway has second-highest commercial vacancy rate at 18%

1,000 submissions against proposed traffic lights at Oughterard bridge delivered to County Hall

Up to a thousand submissions against the proposed plan for traffic lights at Oughterard bridge have been delivered to County Hall.
The plans to construct lights at the old bridge have drawn mixed opinions from locals and councillors.
Many people have instead been calling for the construction of a pedestrian bridge at the location - which they say would improve safety.
John Gibbons has chaired meetings in Oughterard on the plans, and he says there is uproar over the situation
 

This year’s Baboró Festival for Children promises best of spectacle and fun

City event celebrates 30 years of social inclusion and community action through Pobal

Inishmore native presenter urging women to prioritise their heart health.