Galway Living City Group says local authorities should be given special powers to address the "crisis" in property and housing. Its submission to the Galway draft development plan proposes local authorities be permitted to establish land banks. Conditions should also be attached to planning permission which would ensure the supply of serviced land at a "non-speculative" level of profit, the group says.
The Living City group, which is attached to the Labour Party's Galway West constituency, is one of many bodies and individuals which made submissions on the Galway plan. The closing date was last month.
Mr Joe Gavin, Galway City Manager, said there had been "substantial public interest" after 16 months consultation. A final document is expected to be adopted by the autumn, possibly with amendments, and another month's public display.
In a detailed critique, the Galway Living City Group seeks the appointment of a city architect and an access officer on disability. There should be a specific reference to jobs in the draft plan. The integration of city and county planning was needed.
It criticises the omission of a cultural chapter, given Galway's profile. Some of the language in the text is also "vague", particularly in relation to recreation and amenity.
It proposes a register of all public rights of way in the city and county areas be established, and notes in one case the existing rights of way in Miller's Lane had been suppressed, despite city council assurances. It also supports a submission by the Galway Ecological Trust concerning city walks in general, the preservation of the high ground to the city's north west, and the establishment of a new walk linking coast to river.
The group supports the proposal for a public park which would represent the local authority's millennium project, and also supports a specific conservation strategy for the land and woods at Menlo. It welcomes the plan's commitment to cycle lanes, but says indoor recreation and "passive" areas are inadequately dealt with. It says the needs of young people merit special consideration.
The group calls for lower housing density and says the public transport provision requires more detailed treatment. It sees a need to "revisit" zonings.