A sole objector, concerned over road traffic safety issues, is stalling plans by Larry Goodman's Galway Clinic to expand its operations to treat an additional 14,165 patients per annum.
Last month, Galway City Council granted planning permission to Mr Goodman's Galway Clinic Doughiska UC for a two storey extension comprising additional enhanced medical assessment, diagnostic facilities, a new ambulance bay and the removal of 48 car-parking spaces.
A planning report lodged with the application, which will extend the footprint of Galway Clinic by 2,050 sq m, states that the proposed development is expected to increase staff by 20 at the Galway Clinic.
Planning and environmental consultants for the hospital, MKO state that as the Galway Clinic provides high-quality treatment - especially cardiology and urology treatment - the development will increase the number of people that are able to access necessary healthcare services in Galway and the west of Ireland in a timely and efficient manner.
However the project is on hold after local resident, Dr Sheila Furey lodged an appeal against the grant of permission to An Bord Pleánála.
Dr Furey of Doughiska, Galway was one of three parties to lodge objections to the proposed extension when the application was before Galway City Council.
The council granted permission after an internal report concluded that the proposal didn't exacerbate the site access issue at the clinic.
In her appeal, Dr Furey states that the grant of permission doesn’t adequately address the valid concerns and issues not only in her objection but in the other objections lodged against the proposal.
She said the proposal plans to build upon an existing outside car-park, compounding existing car-parking issues in the area, which all stem from Galway Clinic.
Dr Furey contends that the area in the vicinity of Galway Clinic has been blighted for many years by clinic users and visitors parking at the sides of the public roads, on footpaths and verges forcing pedestrians onto the roads and obstructing entrances.
She said that a multi-storey car-park built at the site has not resolved the ongoing parking issues.
In the appeal, she stated that the diversion of the public road into the Galway Clinic has resulted in an improper, precarious and very dangerous road layout and has yet to be rectified by the Galway Clinic.
The Galway Clinic is part of Blackrock Health which also includes Blackrock Clinic and Hermitage Clinic. A spokeswoman outlined the proposed development and said that "while the planning permission process is still underway, we are not in a position to comment any further, and we look forward to the response from An Bord Pleánála."
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
