Appeals board rejects controversial Tuam car park development

AN Bord Pleanála has upheld an appeal against Galway County Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a controversial large surface car park in Tuam town centre. The board has refused planning permission to businessman Joe O’Toole to extend the car park behind his SuperValu supermarket on Bishop Street.
The decision now paves the way for the High Court to enforce the reinstatement of the old Palace Road, which was removed during the unauthorised development.
While it’s understood that both sides are anxious for the issue to move forward promptly, until all the finer details are finalised in the High Court, all of the car parks which were closed by a High Court order earlier this year will remain shut down. Town centre traders are also anxious for a prompt conclusion to the dispute as many have reported a drop in trade as result of the loss of parking spaces.
In refusing permission An Bord Pleanala said the development would result in the proliferation of car parking in the location and would result in the underutilisation of strategic land within Tuam’s town centre.
It stated that the car park would seriously detract from the setting of a number of protected structures and would seriously injure the visual amenity of the architectural conservation area.
The third reason given for refusal was that the proposal did not give sufficient consideration to the archaelogical and historic context of the site.

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