TOWNS expecting their boundaries to be extended to take in developing areas on their outskirts have had their hopes dashed by a Government commissioned report on local government reorganisation.
The report, published yesterday, recommends that town boundaries should be extended only where it can be shown that such a move would not damage the county council as the primary unit of local government.
It also says the "wide scale" creation of new town authorities, even in areas of population explosion, "is neither warranted nor feasible", adding that each proposal would require "rigorous assessment".
Chaired by Mr Jim Lacey, former head of National Irish Bank, the Local Government Reorganisation Commission proposes much closer links between county councils and their lesser local authorities.
It suggests a "one stop shop" approach to local government services in towns, combining the services provided by the county council and corporation or urban district council, with staff being shared.
One of the commission's major fears was that a generalised extension of towns to take in commercial, industrial and residential areas outside their historic boundaries would undermine the revenue base of county councils.
This was welcomed by Cllr Fintan Coogan, the Fine Gael chairman of the General Council of County Councils. He said Mr Lacey and his commission "deserve credit for not going for the easy option" of boundary extensions.
"County councils have a capacity and strength that even the larger town authorities can't hope to match. Anything which might water down county loyalties could undermine community spirit."
He stressed the need for all party concensus on local government finance. However, any new local taxes would have to be "fully offset against income tax. A £30 million development in Galway docks, the largest hotel/residential scheme ever proposed for the city, is at odds with the city's development plan due to its scale and character, An Taisce has claimed.
The development of a six storey hotel, 139 residential units, offices and a multi storey car park would not respect the existing streetscape at Long Walk along the River Corrib, "one of the most significant images of the city".
It would also be highly obtrusive and very visible from many parts of the city, Ms Dianne McDonogh, on behalf of An Taisce, told a Bord Pleanala hearing in Galway.
"An Taisce considers that the development as proposed is premature in the absence of an area action plan for the city's docks area. Galway Corporation needs to address the redevelopment of the docklands area in a progressive, integrated manner ... rather than dealing with individual development proposals as they emerge in an ad hoc fashion."
The development did not address sufficiently issues of constraints and opportunities in the area, traffic factors and the appropriate mix of residents and commercial activity.
An Taisce believed the development was premature in the absence of the necessary infrastructure to deal adequately with the increase of waste water that would arise from it and thought it "will contribute to the polluted conditions at the mouth of the River Corrib".
Ms McDonogh also queried the manner in which the local authority had sought additional information prior to the granting of permission.
Marine biologist Dr Brendan O'Connor, on behalf of the developers, rejected suggestions that the development would have a negative effect on the nearby waterway, or on its fish or water quality.
It would result, at worst, in a 1.6 per cent increase in waste discharges. As there was a fast water flow, this would guarantee that there would be no significant oxygen depletion in the main body of the river.
An Bord Pleanala's decision is expected in early September.
