CONCERNS have been raised in Cois Fharraige that a number of proposed preferred routes for a new road from Barna to Scríb, via Ros a'Mhíl, is not only too close to some bouses but ploughing through some of them.

A public meeting in an Inverin pub last week which was attended by 250 people also raised worries that about 20 or more planning applications were in limbo until a decision is made.

There have been two rounds of public consultations involving meetings in the South Connemara Gaeltacht area but few attended. However, with the deadline for submissions nearing on July 31, a group of local people organised the public meeting inviting local councillors - three attended Seán Ó Tuairisg, Seosamh Ó Cuaig and Tomás Ó Curraoin.

Galway County Council, via the Department of the Enviromnent, bas secured €3.7million to build an alternative road that would provide a quicker route from Connemara to the city and linking Ros a'Mhíl port.

For almost 30 years people have complained that the coast road is inadequate for the volume of traffic and it has been generally accepted that the road cannot be widened or upgraded because of the ribbon development and the number of access roads onto it.

Four years ago, according to Councillor Seosamh Ó Cuaig, a public meeting highlighted the need for a new road because of the dangers of the existing one. "Now, a public meeting is putting up strong objections to a number of the preferred routes though I did get the message that people aren't opposed to the provision of a new road," he added.

An engineering company, RPS has been contracted by the Council to carry out the public consultative process to choose a route and last week in Tigh Chualain's bar, about 200 comment sheets were filled in by those in attendance.

Namely, people's concerns centred around the proximity of some of these preferred routes - the website (www.galway.ie/R336 - Gaeilge nó Béarla -) shows maps and aerial photographs of the routes and quite by accident some people discovered that there was a possibility that their bouse would have to be demolished to make way for the road.

One of these was Caitríona Uí Chualáin of Coiste Gníomhach Timpeallacht Choill Rua, whose house is on one of the preferred routes in Cois Fharraige and she promptly acted and called for a public meeting to discover a number of other people had similar worries.

"We believe there was inadequate public consultation. It's not good~enough to discover by accident that your house is on a possible route. Someof these routes are splitting com munities and one is going through Special Areas of Conservation.

"We told people on the night to fill in the comment forms so that they would have a say in the process and another public meetIng is being organised in the Connemara Coast Hotel, Furbo tonight (Thursday) at 9pm for the same reason."

Another local householder told The Connacht Tribune felt many believed it was a "fait accompli" and that the Council had already decided which route it would be and that local people's considerations were secondary. "Either way, a new road will affect people and if they decide on tlie northern route up on the bog, it will be ironic that the Local Authority can put a road through an SAC area. Some people are considering a "No Road' campaign but it is probably a bit late at this stage. The general mood at the meeting was quite heated because people feel the Council is being underhanded.

But Cllr Ó Cuaig said the new road had been on the cards for years and that far from being underhanded, it had been discussed often at Council level but couldn't be executed until there was funding made available.

"This is the biggest project in Connemara since Alexander Nimmo built the roads and piers and since the railway line was laid between Galway and Clifden.

"We need the road in the interest of safety, to facilitate people living in West Connemara who need a quick access to the city and beyond and to allow for the development of a deep water harbour at Ros a'Mhíl.

We need a dedicated comdor north of the settlements of Cois Fharraige for the road and for other essential services. There are thousands of acres in the Special Area of Conservation in Connemara and the Infrastructure strip would have very little effect on the integrity of the SAC. I am making inquiries about presenting a case on this matter to the Minister and the Depantment."

He agreed that as soon as a preferred route had been announced planning applications along the other routes should be processed.

Bernie Ní Fhlatharta Cúradh Chonnachtach 10/7/2009