Campaign group fights plans for third Starbucks in Galway as petition nears 800 signatures
Nearly 800 people in Galway are objecting to a third Starbucks café proposed for the city, according to a petition facilitated by a local campaign group.
The Galway Commuter Coalition (GCC) has acquired 778 signatures against plans for a Starbucks drive-through at the Galway Shopping Centre in Terryland. Now, the group say they are preparing information for a formal submission objecting to the application made to Galway City planning offices.
Some of those who have signed the petition say they are defending small, local businesses calling the approval of the Starbucks café an “Americanisation” of Galway.
“Let’s support indigenous businesses. This would damage the existing local businesses who have worked hard to build up their businesses over decades,” one petitioner said.
Another said: “We have been seeing smaller businesses in Galway shutting down for years. Nobody wants a Starbucks. We want to support our local businesses so Galway doesn’t lose the charm it once had.”
Atercin Liffey Unlimited put forward a planning application on August 13 seeking approval for a drive-through Starbucks on the north-east side of the shopping centre’s car park. The drive-through would feature a north facing drive-through hatch, new signage, and a new vehicle circulation route and reconfiguration of footpaths.
The Galway Commuter Coalition hope to gain support from Galway City Councillors who believe approval of the drive-through café will worsen traffic and go against the area plan for Headford Road.
GCC said the group has already been given a response by two city councillors who support the approval of development due to the provision of increased jobs. The coalition would not disclose the name of the councillors.
At the core of the coalition’s submission is the drive-through goes “completely against” the Galway City Development Plan (GCDP), a representative told the Irish Independent.
GCC cited the Headford Road Local Area Plan under the GCDP which states Headford Road and the Galway Shopping Centre “lacks cohesion, a sense of place, good linkages and failure to take advantage of the adjacent natural heritage assets.”
“These areas could benefit greatly from an improved urban structure, modernisation, quality design, a greater mix of uses, better linkage and integration with the finer grained street network in the historic core and a significant upgrade to the public realm.”
Headford Road junction near the Galway Shopping Centre. Proposed location for the Starbucks café is behind the Supermacs. © Google Maps
If approved, this would mark the third Starbucks within a 1km stretch of the city.
The planning application is open for submissions until Wednesday, September 16.
In June, another Starbucks outlet took up residency in one of Galway’s most iconic streets. Originally home to Martine’s Restaurant, Starbucks took over a high-profile building in Galway’s Quay Street, much to the bewilderment of some local traders and shoppers.
One Quay Street business employee told the Irish Independent that the addition was unnecessary for the area: “I don’t think we need another chain in the Latin Quarter. Of all things, now, do we need another Starbucks?”
Currently, the street is populated with several independent shops and businesses such as Wooden Heart and Thomas Dillons Claddagh Ring Jewellers. Eateries are either Irish-owned chains such as XI’an Street Food and Ithe Smashburgers or Galway stalwarts such as McDonagh’s Fish and Chips and Freddy’s Pizza.