Galway Bay FM Newsroom - A Galway City Councillor has given a cautious welcome but has also raised concerns over the reopening of the Middle Quay or Middle Arch beside the Claddagh Basin on Tuesday next.
Access to Middle Arch in the city centre was closed to the public last May following requests from the Gardai due to large crowds that had gathered in the days previously amid fears of it becoming a serious health and safety risk.
The concerns were raised by Cllr. Niall McNelis who said that a cautious welcome should be given but that the possibility of closing it in evenings needs to be seriously looked at.
He said "The decision to close it was earlier in year was due to it had become an area where large groups had gathered drinking and had led to calls by locals that it had become a serious health and safety risk. The area also does not have safety barriers and this has led to persons falling into the water in the past.
"Recently there has been a large number of calls made that the area should be reopened and that public space be made available to the public."
Cllr. McNelis also said that a cautious welcome should be given but that the possibility of closing it in evenings needs to be seriously looked at.
"We can not have the same scenes repeated as we did earlier this year and in previous years. House gardens and Claddagh church grounds were used as toilets and large amounts of litter mainly drink, was left behind. I have met a number of residents this weekend who are not happy with decision and calls have been made by them to have it closed in evenings by City Council and Gardai should assist in clearing area if needs be.
"We do not have enough Garda personnel to have proper policing in our City, we need more resources for the City to tackle and enforce anti social behaviour.
"I have met this week with Gardai and have been given assurances that this will be closely monitored and occasions such as exam results nights, freshers week and good weather will be monitored." He concluded.
