GALWAY County Councillors have given their backing to the creation of a major new town on the east of the city despite eoncerns it would vacuum up ail the investment opportunities from the rest of the county.

A blunt message from the director of services for planning Paul Ridge appears to swung the pendulum in favour of Ardaun (sic) - vote yes and have a say in how the area is developed or vote no and the council would have no influence on an area that would alinost certainly go ahead regardless.

The vote at Monday's county council meeting will see the concept of Ardaun and neighbouring Garaun (sic) included in the draft Galway County Development Plan 2009-2015, which, when finally adopted in May, will be the planning bible for the future.

If realised, it will see Oranmore linked to the city and take much of the increase in population for the county, with 6,000 new homes earmarked for the area, which sits within city and county boundaries.

Mr Ridge told councillors that the creation of the new town would bring the opportunity to draw up a transport framework to alleviate traffic chaos for the 20,000 commuters who travel from the county with the establishment of a train service, bus service and a park and ride centre. It would also help create the critical mass of people vital to the establishment of Galway as a gateway for attracting major industry.

Cllr. Seosamh O Cuaig (Ind) said he rejected Ardaun as a matter of principle as it would result in restrictions on development outside this zone and destroy viable communities.

Cllr. Seán Ó Tuairsg (FF) said if employment was created in towns around the county peopie would not be forced to commute. If Ardaun is built, many of the county's villages are doomed.

Clir. Colm Keaveney (Lab) said Ardaun would vacuum up industry from elsewhere into this exclusive zone which would be getting ah the government funding and tax breaks. The end result for the county would be some increased rate capacity and getting some of the trafflc off the road.

Mr Ridge said by increasing the number of jobs available and making them easier to access would benefit the whole county.

By rejecting the proposition councillors were voting themselves out of the decision-making process. The Ardaun project was the only named expansion area in the National Spatial Strategy. To reject it was to shut the only door to substantial govemment funding, the director of services pleaded.

Some would have reservations about attracting another Dell to Ardaun in the wake of the nearly 2,000 job cuts to the plant in Limerick, he added.

But these companies produce good quallty employment, they stay in an area for a long time and there is lots of spin-off employment.

"There is no other show in town," Mr Ridge stressed.

Cllr. Wiilie Burke (Ind) said it was 20 years since Portumna, had managed to attract an industry.

"I think it's time we hitched our wagon to something else. If we can make our city more attractive for the IDA, we're in competition with all the other counties but we're the jewel in the crown in the west. We're the only city that can be counterpole to Dublin," he stated.

Tynagh Mines had added €2m in rates to the town coffers. The creation of Ardaun could add €7m to the county's pockets.

Cllr. Sean Canney (Ind) said there had been an IDA park empty in Tuam for some years. By creating a hub for industry on the edge of the city feeder industries would be encouraged.

"We'il actually grow together. I don't think it will put anything outofTuani. I think it will have the opposite affect. All boats rise together."

Councillors voted overwhehningly in favour ofArdaun to be included in the draft plan, with 2l votes t o3.

The remainder of the draft county development plan will be debated by councillors at a special meeting on Friday.

The proposed development at Ardaun was included in the previous development plan 2003 - 2009. According to a report on that plan by council officials this bas had a consequent knock-on effect to population distribution throughout the remainder of the County.

"The lack of progress on enabling infrastructure to serve this area continues to create uncertainty," the report said.

Denise McNamara Curadh Chonnachta 16/1/2009