`One-sided" and "biased in favour of the objector" is how the Heart of Galway Association describes last week's report in this column on plans for a 24-hour multi-storey car-park in the city.
Proposed by Rubelen Ltd, the plan for a car-park and apartments on a site in the Bowling Green-Market Street area within the medieval city walls has been approved by Galway Corporation.
The principal objectors include the Bowling Green residents and St Nicholas's Collegiate Church.
Mr Michael Heneghan, city centre co-ordinator of the Heart of Galway Association, maintains that there is strong support for the development among the local business community. The Galway Chamber of Commerce has also voiced approval.
Following the pedestrianisation of the city centre in March of last year, the demand for parking is growing, he says.
Responding to comments made by Mr Mark Green of Cairde na Gaillimhe, which, with An Taisce, also opposes the development, Mr Heneghan says that cars can be removed from a city centre only if there is an efficient and effective public transport system. "This has not happened yet. In fact it would appear to be a very long-term achievable objective in Galway," he says.
"The proposed site has been a surface car-park for a number of years, and it is somewhat disingenuous to declare sudden unsuitability," he says. To refuse also to recognise the need for new business in Market Street reflects "an ostrich mentality," he adds.
"No city-centre business person or user wishes to see a new building that does not reflect the history that surrounds it in its new facade," he says. "Galway is a medieval city, and it is important that this fact is incorporated into any new building's design. However, this proposed development seems to be hindered by the intransigent views of a small minority who are against the progress and long-term development of Galway city centre."
He suggests "a conflict of needs and wants" in wishing to live in a compact city without being surrounded by buildings. One of the main objectors is the rector of St Nicholas's Church, Dr MacCarthy.
A "flat-roofed monolithic slab-like structure" which will obliterate the view of the church from the Salmon Weir Bridge and riverside walk and will be extremely damaging to the townscape is how he describes the plan.