Residents in Corrib Park fear that a proposed infill development will destroy the community spirit built up in the area over the last 36 years.

Speaking to the Galway Independent, resident Joan Durack voiced her opposition to the plans, saying that there is no room for further houses in the estate.

"We do not want this to go ahead, that is the residents' view. This is an estate that is over 36 years old and in our opinion, 317 houses are more than enough. Introducing more houses to Corrib Park will disrupt the community feel and is not the answer to solving the city's housing problem. Our message to the city council would be to sort out the houses that are boarded up and vacant and leave our community alone," said Ms Durack.

"We have got a great response and good support from local councillors on this issue. We will be attending the special meeting on housing at City Hall on Monday and hoping that they do not go ahead with this."

Residents were in shock in recent weeks with the news that land in Corrib Park, which was previously used for recreational purposes, had been zoned residential and plans were currently being discussed for an infill project in the area. There has since been fierce opposition to the plans, with residents organising an emergency meeting to combat efforts to construct six terraced houses in the green area of the Westside estate.

Councillor Collette Connolly has also placed an emergency motion on the agenda of Galway City Council's upcoming meeting on housing, asking that the land be rezoned to recreational and amenity. She criticised the procedures undertaken by the Council in relation to the development, saying that "architects' time and taxpayers' money should not have been wasted drawing up housing schemes that were never approved even in principle at strategic policy level".

She continued to say that recreational zoned lands in the city are now coming under siege, since land acquisitions are proving so costly in the current market climate. However, Cllr Connolly highlighted that this was "no excuse for council officials to develop plans that are totally contrary to the City Development Plan itself, which has the specific objective of protecting green open spaces".

The plans were also slammed by Councillor John Connolly, who said it was disheartening that local representatives only found out about the proposed plans when an unsigned note was circulated among the residents of Corrib Park.

"It is particularly disheartening as a local representative to find out of such plans in this manner. I have held umpteen meetings with officials of the Parks Section in City Hall regarding the need to improve and develop this entire area as an amenity area for local sports groups and residents and to have been informed of these plans of this nature be thoroughly discusses with local councillors and residents before progressing them in any matter," said John Connolly.

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