€1.8m Shantalla Park sale to HSE approved by Galway councillors with site use conditions
Galway City Councillors have approved the sale of Shantalla Park to the HSE for the development of a permanent helipad at University Hospital Galway.
The controversial proposal passed by 13 votes to five at July’s plenary meeting after councillors attached a series of conditions ensuring the site is used solely for a helipad.
Outline of helipad development from HSE public engagement showing HSE land (red line), the remainder of Shantalla park (green line), and provision for BusConnects in the centre.
The agreement will see 3.68 hectares of Shantalla park sold to the HSE for €691,875. The remaining 1.5 hectares would be left to Shantalla for development with a €1.1 million donation from the HSE for “community gain”.
Together nearly €1.8 million will be available for Shantalla residents to redesign the remainder of the park.
Councillor John McDonagh, who voted against the sale, called for a deferment of the vote to gather concrete information and rebuild trust with the Shantalla community before a decision is made.
The motion for deferment was not passed.
What did seem to satisfy the majority was a motion put forward by Councillor Peter Keane that added conditions on the sale.
The motion stated that if the HSE were to pivot from the original intention of use, a heliport, then the land will be returned to Galway City Council at the original rate which the land was purchased for.
Shantalla Park looking the current UHG helipad.
The €1.1m the HSE are donating towards the remaining hectares of Shantalla will be used “without prejudice or HSE influence as to how it is to be spent.” If the land is returned to Galway City Council, there will be no obligation to repay the community gain donation, the motion said.
Additionally, it included the donation of a small strip of purchased land for pedestrian and maintenance vehicle access from Costello Road into the park.
The motion specifies that the UHG Development Control Plan recognises the inclusion of BusConnects and will be responsible for its maintenance and design in collaboration with Galwey City Council. Additionally, it states the route will be progressed with the development of the first ward.
After more than an hour of chamber discussion, Director of Services Derek Pender was asked if he was satisfied with the information given about the public transport corridor reflected in the HSE development plan maps.
Ahead of the vote, he claimed he was satisfied.
While councillors broadly recognised the urgent need for expanded healthcare infrastructure at UHG, a Model 4 hospital serving the west of Ireland, the mutual frustration came over the lack of engagement with the local authority and the public.
Galway City Councillor Alan Curran called it “shambolic,” while Councillor Mike Cubbard said his colleague’s description was “kind.”
“We as a local authority are there to provide a public service. That land is part of that public service,” Cllr Cubbard said to his colleagues and HSE representatives. “I have not seen any effort whatsoever from the HSE to build that trust up.”
However, for Cllr Keane, “the provision of healthcare trumps any other argument.”
Voting against the sale was Councillor Aisling Burke, Councillor Mike Cubbard, Councillor Alan Curran, Councillor John McDonagh, and Councillor Eibhlín Seoighthe.
The Irish Independent amended this article on July 17 and on July 22 correcting attributions from Derek Pender.