Galway Docks

Sign has been erected at Galway docks - No Motorhomes and threats of being clamped.

Is this the area where Motorhomes could previously overnight?

I will go down there this evening and have a look.

Phelim,
You could try the Cathedral car park,Galway is very MH unfriendly now The cafe in Oughtarad is OK for a stop over not much to do there.

You might be as well taking your hard earned euro to a county that you are welcome in.

Ken, thanks for that info. I have also contacted the Port Authority and was informed that it was the Galway City Council who pointed out that the Port Authority had no planning permission for motorhome parking...How many years did it take for the city council to suddenly discover this??? I feel that there is something else/someone else behind this. I asked the Port Auth to pursue the matter and apply for retention of motorhome parking.
I also contacted the City Council and was told that the planning Authority enforcer involved is a Mr Peter Staunton. I have left my number for him to call me back after lunch.
Both Port and Council mentioned that there had been complaints but would not elucidate where these came from. (Salthill direction maybe????)

Apparently there may have been large numbers of motorhomes parked there during the season?? As in over 25. I can't comment as I did not see same. Imagine a city that does not want 25 motorhomers spending their cash in their locality....And their reaction is to close down the facility as opposed to expanding it!!!!!
Excuse rant but I am just back from France where we all know motorhomers are welcomed and facilities provided, in many cases for free. Of course camp sites are also of a higher standard than most here and cost less. ACSI is great but try using it in Ireland!!! Only 7/8 sites I think....out of how many?? But NONE in GALWAY....

I suggest motorhomers contact the City Council and express our disappointment at this sudden anti tourist action..

Also contact Port Authority and request they apply for planning retention/permission or what ever is required and at same time apply to expand the facility.

Watch for increases in costs on sites here with the water rates issue!!!!!!!!Any experiences yet???? javascript:void(0);
Off to gym now to work off frustrations....javascript:void(0);.

has echos of Portrush about it.

When i asked why was it only in English,when so many European campervans used it,she replied they could not put it in every language,i told her there was no need,just a simple picture of a camper with a red line through it.

Well done Paddy,where did you sent it too,

Paddy it has nothing to do with Galway Co Co its Galway city council you have to contact.

Here is a Link for the Councillors on Galway City Council,with Contact Details,So get Writing Folks.

http://www.galwaycity.ie/counc…rmation/#3

When are we going to wake up?? At the rate we are loosing recognised Motorhome parking places not to mind getting new aires in a short time at this rate we will not be able to take our Motorhomes on the Road. Is sending emails all we are going to do? Sending emails is a waste of time, How many times in the past did we send emails and what did get from them, Nothing! we went through all this last year in Dunmore East and lost the Battle and we are going to lose this one too if we don't get off our ass's and get out in our Motorhomes and protest. Why don't we take a trip into Galway in our Motorhomes and see for ourselves what the parking situation is like and keep driving around the City until we all find a parking space after all we pay road tax on our Motorhomes and are entitle to drive into the city and find a parking space. Sorry if I sound a bit pi**ed off, thats because I am.

I rang Keith Finnegan on Galway Bay FM this morning,but they didn't get back to me,maybe if enough people contact the station they may put it on air,after all Galway City relies on tourists all year round.The phone no is 091 770077,and Keiths show is on from 10am daily.

Ally as you say we really do need a voice which can speak for us now and if we go down the route of starting our own I for one would be happy to see this becoming a reality. We no longer can sit back and accept that it is a lost cause for Motorhomers. We need this voice sooner rather than later as we seem to be losing places rapidly. URGENCY IS REQUIRED.

No that doesn't need to be the case, we could just appoint spoke persons who speak for all of MHC, with active discussion between members.



I am not sure if that is the case, I think it is more a lack of education on some councils behalf.

I agree with you Ally, there is too many agenda's and too much Fragmentation but high time for us to bury the hatchet and lobby with a united front. 28 members said that they were joined Clubs in our recent poll and I urge every one of you them to approach their club with the view of all of us getting together and singing from the same hymn sheet. If planning is the issue which I doubt, the next thing they will want planning permission from Motorhome friendly pubs etc. Talking of Planning, down in Ardmore Dick Power is giving us great service with his private aire by the sea and is taking many motorhomes off the street and yet the council is trying to close him down with ridiculous demands and then they put up no Motorhome parking signs in the street stopping us parking there too, What the Bl**dy hell do they want ? You are dammed if you and you are dammed if you don't.

Well done Seamus,I think a call to Kieth Finnegan in Galway Gay Fm (091770077)would help. When they stopped MH parking in Kinvara he had a piece on his morning show,after all Galway gets a lot of its income from tourism.

Its a station for those of a certain disposition

Fair play to Galway City Council. Just received a reply from Mr Staunton as follows:
"Following a complaint from a member of the public in relation to motorhomes using car parking spaces at Dock St., Galway City Council were obliged to investigate the claims, as per Section 152 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Following a site inspection it was found that authorised car parking spaces were being utilised for the unauthorised parking of motorhomes, which were giving rise to traffic and pedestrian safety concerns.
It should be noted that planning permission does not exist for the parking of motorhomes at the site. The parking of motorhomes at this location represents a change in the authorised use of the land, from temporary car parking use permitted under PI. Ref. 12/67 (permitted until 26/06/2018), to a motorhome parking use. The unauthorised use of the land does not have the benefit of planning permission and therefore must cease. The parking of motor homes at this location also gives rise to issues of traffic and pedestrian safety, as the parking spaces are sized for cars only.
Should Galway Harbour Company wish to facilitate motorhome users at their site, then they are within their rights to consider their options with regard to seeking appropriate planning permission for the area in question.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Staunton
Assistant Planner / Enforcement Officer"

Factual and to the point. Fast follow up to "a complaint from a member of the public". ONE COMPLAINT. I agree with his comments about the size of parking spaces allocated to motorhomes. He passes the buck back to Galway Harbour Company....No mention of Galway City Council facilitating motorhome users though..
I will forward this to Harbour Company later.

He must be a fair influential member of the Public!

Out of curiosity do anyone know how long Motorhomes have been using the Dock area for Parking?