Extra time for Galway residents as travel scheme submission deadline is extended
Galway County Council has approved an extension to the public submission deadline for the Active Travel Scheme currently under consultation in Headford, County Galway.
Councillor Mary Hoade requested that the original deadline of January 2, 2026 be extended, citing the busy Christmas period as a barrier for residents wishing to engage with the process. The new deadline has been set for Friday, January 9, 2026.
“The lead-up to Christmas is always a very, very busy time for everybody,” Councillor Hoade told the Irish Independent.
“I have spoken to some constituents who were just beginning to get to look at it as the Christmas recess had finished, so it was to encourage people to make submissions, to have their say, but particularly to give them the time to do that.”
The proposed scheme affects Church Road in Headford, an area close to two schools, a church, and a soccer club, and is known for heavy traffic congestion. Public submissions opened in the beginning of December.
Public consultation on active travel schemes has been widely promoted by councillors across the county, with an emphasis on encouraging community participation in the Active Travel Schemes.
“There is quite a lot of traffic there, quite a build-up of traffic, but it's important that there is an opportunity where you can make submissions and that you can have your say in relation to how you want the future of your area to develop,” Councillor Hoade said.
“It’s about combining motorists and pedestrians safely. By giving people the opportunity to have their say, you buy into the scheme and you take ownership of it.”