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Council to pursue NRA over Ballyhugh site


A general view of the unfinished green area at Ballyhugh, Gort. Photograph by John Kelly

A public representative has called on Galway County Council to pursue the National Roads Authority in relation to improving an area left in a terrible condition after the completion of the M18 from Gort to Ennis.

Councillor Gerry Finnerty asked the local authority, at a recent council meeting, to “pursue the NRA to complete remaining works at Ballyhugh, Gort after the completion of the M18 Gort to Ennis.

“An area has been left in a deplorable state and recently had to be mowed by a mechanical vehicle. This is not the ideal situation to have the green area entering a town,” he said.

Councillor Finnerty said he was very disappointed by the condition of the land. “When they came into town there was a slip road there, now they have opened it up and it is like a big junction. It takes up literally about half an acre of ground and it has been left like a wilderness. Now the NRA are saying it is a landscape area and I think they want trees and shrubs planted on it but Galway County Council doesn’t have staff to cut grass or maintain it so it is not ideal,” Councillor Finnerty stated.

Responding to his notice of motion on the issue at a recent Galway County Council meeting, a senior official said they would pursue this matter with the NRA.

Councillor Finnerty also approached the council to press the NRA to erect signage on the M18 at Exit 15 Crusheen indicating that the R583, the former N18, is an alternative route to Gort, East Clare and North Clare.

“This would increase tourism, certainly. There is only one entrance into Gort at the moment; the Crusheen exit off the motorway could be used as a second entrance to Gort, because it is really only 10 minutes away. Then by coming in that road you can connect to East Clare and North Clare and the Burren. People travelling to parts of Clare to the East of Gort especially,  they would be as well coming off at Crusheen and travelling North on the old road so they avoid the town of Gort,” he stated.

A representative of Galway County Council said it would discuss this issue of additional signage at this location, with the NRA and advise accordingly.

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