All is not well in Tuam

ScumLord

The group will seek the restoration of the Palace road so as safe passage can once again be guaranteed for school children and the general public when attempting to visit the Palace grounds and surrounding amenities.

What do they mean by that? Is the palace road the one that connects Bishops St. to the swimming pool? I don't really see how that could be made any safer for children. The chicane in it at the moment forces cars to stay at a very slow speed.

Do they plan on ripping up the car park altogether?

nice_guy80

Will they pull down all his other illegal developments?

ScumLord

nice_guy80 wrote: »

Will they pull down all his other illegal developments?

You'd assume they'll have to look into everything he's done now.

Thanks for that Stella

Justice at last!! Long live the Decent People of Tuam who fought for Justice and won!!

Put that in your Pipe.

http://www.galwaybayfm.ie/component/k2/item/3736-high-court-rules-to-close-controversial-tuam-carpark

dec25532

Thanks for that Stella wrote: »

Justice at last!! Long live the Decent People of Tuam who fought for Justice and won!!

Put that in your Pipe.

http://www.galwaybayfm.ie/component/k2/item/3736-high-court-rules-to-close-controversial-tuam-carpark

Justice? Well, kinda. There has been a stay on the closure until January 17 as the matter went to the Supreme Court on Friday.
There has been no order to restore the Palace Road. The only order that was made was to close down the car parks in the interest of safety.
The fundamental issue has still not been addressed by the High Court and it is unclear now when this will happen. The judgement has raised more questions than answers.

Tinder

Hi folks. Just wondering if anyone knows what the other six planning breeches Mr. O'Toole has been involved in in Tuam. Quote from court document below.

He has been the subject of six enforcement or warning notices but has repeatedly been granted retention permission. The most recent retention permission was granted on 3rd October, 2013, in respect of much of the work involved in this application. This history demonstrates little regard for the planning process on the part of the respondent. It also reflects little credit on those charged with responsibility for the integrity of the planning process in Tuam. The planning situation in the historic heart of Tuam, as revealed in the evidence before the court in this application, may be described as chaotic.

bagels

Tinder wrote: »

Hi folks. Just wondering if anyone knows what the other six planning breeches Mr. O'Toole has been involved in in Tuam. Quote from court document below.

He has been the subject of six enforcement or warning notices but has repeatedly been granted retention permission. The most recent retention permission was granted on 3rd October, 2013, in respect of much of the work involved in this application. This history demonstrates little regard for the planning process on the part of the respondent. It also reflects little credit on those charged with responsibility for the integrity of the planning process in Tuam. The planning situation in the historic heart of Tuam, as revealed in the evidence before the court in this application, may be described as chaotic.

In the past 17 years he's completed 8 developments all without planning permission. These include enlargement of carparks, renovation of his store, building onto the bishop's palace, etc. He's even had the brass neck to hang a huge plastic sign on the front of the bishop's palace which happens to be a listed protected building. It was removed shortly before the court case. It would be fair to assume that anything his hand has touched in those years was contrary to the planning laws of the land. His cronies in County Buildings and on the County Council have ensured he received 'retention' permission on every occasion. Those people were supposed to stand up for your rights, not turn a blind eye to his lawbreaking. Everyone of those scumbags should now be named and shamed.

gammygils

Those car parks are now closed. Sealed off with parking cones and red & white tape from 9 o'clock this morning.
Petitions instore for the reopening of the car parks.
Needles to say we didn't sign

Mars Bar

Which car parks are closed?

bagels

gammygils wrote: »

Those car parks are now closed. Sealed off with parking cones and red & white tape from 9 o'clock this morning.
Petitions instore for the reopening of the car parks.
Needles to say we didn't sign

Well done for not signing.
Some people have a terrible cheek, organising a petition in support of a law-breaker contrary to the Orders of both the High and Supreme Courts of this State.
It just goes to show how much of a hold he still has over some people in our community.

gammygils

The new ones left and right of the Palace Road

bagels

Mars Bar wrote: »

Which car parks are closed?

In accordance with the Rule of Court that was handed down by the High Court and further legitimised by the Supreme Court, all of the unauthorised car parks must be closed. The only parking areas that can remain open are:
1. The former Council car park that fronts onto Bishop Street;
2. The area in front of his store stretching from the Community Centre across to the rear of the Fallons Drapery shop;
3. The area behind Murphy's Furniture Store (at the Shop St bridge) where Garveys Mill was located.

loveBBhate

Mars Bar wrote: »

Which car parks are closed?

Super Valu and The Court House

Mars Bar

bagels wrote: »

In accordance with the Rule of Court that was handed down by the High Court and further legitimised by the Supreme Court, all of the unauthorised car parks must be closed. The only parking areas that can remain open are:
1. The former Council car park that fronts onto Bishop Street;
2. The area in front of his store stretching from the Community Centre across to the rear of the Fallons Drapery shop;
3. The area behind Murphy's Furniture Store (at the Shop St bridge) where Garveys Mill was located.

I've just been back from O'Tooles. Christ almighty, it's like a circus up there now.

loveBBhate

Mars Bar wrote: »

I've just been back from O'Tooles. Christ almighty, it's like a circus up there now.

Truth. I was in Quinns having a laugh about it with Ja & Dec.

Thanks for that Stella

Its been like a circus up there for a long time, but now the clowns clothes have been removed, for all and sundry to see who the real clown is.

Thanks for that Stella

http://www.galwaybayfm.ie/component/k2/item/4100-supreme-court-upholds-decision-to-close-unauthorised-tuam-carpark

Shakti

Great news, well done to all involved and looking forward to the restoration

Endaaaagh

So what happens now? Has he been ordered to restore the old road or will the car park remain as is (but closed)?

the_syco

Endaaaagh wrote: »

So what happens now? Has he been ordered to restore the old road or will the car park remain as is (but closed)?

I'm guessing this, and if he plays his cards right, the car park will be reopened for "a limited time", and the affair brushed under the carpet.

=-=

I note that the FB page is now a "closed group"...!

LFC Murphy

So why shop in his store?

The message will be heard alot quicker if money is at stake..

ScumLord

LFC Murphy wrote: »

So why shop in his store?

It is still a local business that employs a lot of local people. It also sells a lot of Irish products. Surely no one actually wants to see the place closed?

I just think this is such a mess. Tuam now has had a fairly large amenity that did at least somewhat serve the town closed down, if the town can't find money from somewhere to dig it up and replant it again it will go derelict.

Shakti

If it does it will be the of fault O'Toole and his cronies and nobody else's

serfboard

ScumLord wrote: »

Tuam now has had a fairly large amenity that did at least somewhat serve the town closed down, if the town can't find money from somewhere to dig it up and replant it again it will go derelict.

So illegal behaviour should be tolerated?

LFC Murphy

ScumLord wrote: »

It is still a local business that employs a lot of local people. It also sells a lot of Irish products. Surely no one actually wants to see the place closed?

I just think this is such a mess. Tuam now has had a fairly large amenity that did at least somewhat serve the town closed down, if the town can't find money from somewhere to dig it up and replant it again it will go derelict.

Agree regarding jobs etc, but why should the town have to foot the bill to rectify someone's mess....

galwayspur

Really bad form to print the names of the objectors on a big 'business as usual' sign at the front door.

LFC Murphy

Sure thet'll have RGDATA coming out next

ScumLord

serfboard wrote: »

So illegal behaviour should be tolerated?

Obviously that was my point. :rolleyes:

LFC Murphy wrote: »

Agree regarding jobs etc, but why should the town have to foot the bill to rectify someone's mess....

What if he can legally find a way of saying he can't afford to pay? They might be able to get some money out of him but he may not be able to cover the entire cost. Although nobodies said what they want to put in there.

At the end of the day this should be a lesson to Tuam, well, for all us small towns. The people of the town had a chance to do something about this before it happened. They watched it happen and waited until it was too late to do something about it. As we can see now, the town had the ability to do something about it all along when they pulled together.

It's our own procrastination that allows these people to get away with whatever they want, I'm just as guilty and these kind of issues have been a big wake up call (we have our own in my town). Hopefully Tuam will keep the group that made this turn around very active and on the look out for any potential disasters in the town.

bagels

ScumLord wrote: »

Although nobodies said what they want to put in there.

Incorrect. More than 2,500 members of the Facebook group Restore Our Palace Road want the Palace Road restored as close as possible to its former glory.

ScumLord wrote: »

The people of the town had a chance to do something about this before it happened.

Incorrect. Statutory procedures were not adhered to and the plan was shrouded in secrecy, thereby enabling the 'stroke' to be pulled under the radar.

ScumLord wrote: »

They watched it happen and waited until it was too late to do something about it.

We watched it happen alright, conned into believing something entirely different was being constructed. We weren't aware we needed to do something about it until the project neared completion and then we realised we'd been conned. We immediately organised and began to oppose the'stroke'.

ScumLord wrote: »

As we can see now, the town had the ability to do something about it all along when they pulled together.

We succeeded despite the fact that some Town Cllrs, many County Cllrs and big shots in County Buildings opposed us all the way. Its the function of these people to serve us, not fight us. So much for pulling together.

ScumLord wrote: »

It's our own procrastination that allows these people to get away with whatever they want, I'm just as guilty and these kind of issues have been a big wake up call (we have our own in my town).

Its been a huge wake up call to the whole town. Its only now we realise how badly we've been shafted down through the years. Procrastination will result in this country being taken over by the elites and we've only ourselves to blame if that happens.

ScumLord wrote: »

Hopefully Tuam will keep the group that made this turn around very active and on the look out for any potential disasters in the town.

Several groups and individuals are now very active in Tuam. Residents are on guard against further attempts to destroy Tuam.

I encourage everybody to get involved in the running of their communities, before they've no communities left.

ScumLord

bagels wrote: »

Incorrect. More than 2,500 members of the Facebook group Restore Our Palace Road want the Palace Road restored as close as possible to its former glory.

A road isn't going to fill that entire space though. Do you just want a road surrounded by the rubble of a ripped up car park?

We watched it happen alright, conned into believing something entirely different was being constructed.

Workers on that project made complaints to the Tuam herald during the construction about what was happening in there, in particular the felling of ancient trees. They were completely ignored. But it seemed everyone had bought into the idea that what would replace those trees would be more important.

Shakti

ScumLord wrote: »

the felling of ancient trees

They were beautiful, the shame of it

loveBBhate

I used to jog the park and my usual routine was to sit down by the bench nearest the big tree near the bridge. I would then kiss the tree and jog on and finish my run. I do miss it

Cantremember

A right mess. Will the relief road have to close too? Wasn't it part if the deal?

Some12

Cut and paste from Galway Bay FM website

Higher Planning Authority overturns permission for Tuam car park

GBFM News

May 20, 2014

Galway Bay FM News Desk



Galway Bay fm newsroom – A decision on a planning appeal, which has been the source of much controversy in the town of Tuam, has been made.

An Bord Pleanála has refused to grant planning permission to Joe O’ Toole for car parking and associated works and alterations to roads and footpaths at Townparks.

The appeal had been made by Leo Moran and Palace Fields Residents’ Association among others.

The County Council granted permission to Joe O’ Toole to retain the car park at Townparks close to his supermarket, last October.
This decision was appealed by musician and singer, Leo Moran, Palace Fields Residents’ Association and other individuals.

The higher planning authority has decided to overturn the County Council’s grant of permission.

In making the decision to refuse permission for the Tuam car park, An Bord Pleanála states that the development to be retained, would result in the proliferation of car parking in that area, which is not justified.

---

There was a perfectly good parking lot there to service both his store and the local area before he destroyed a beautiful area of Tuam just to build a bigger parking lot...

Mars Bar

And now we've even less parking spaces than we had to begin with.

dharma200

Mars Bar wrote: »

And now we've even less parking spaces than we had to begin with.

which is great.. supervalu does not need all those spaces. It was abhorrent what they did to that piece of land, illegally.... truly disgusted me. I drive a van and yes, it is a hanssle for me to park anywhere, but i still refused to park there.
A few less parking spaces in the world.. so what... what was done to that area was nothing short of vandalism on a huge scale, to line the pockets of a businessman.

Delighted about this ruling, I have a bit of faith in planners now to hold vandals accountable.

Some12

Mars Bar wrote: »

And now we've even less parking spaces than we had to begin with.

There was an existing parking lot across the road that was more than sufficient before O'Toole started destroying the area.

In addition to restoring the road, I hope O'Toole has to put the original parking lot back in place.

Perhaps he should be arrested for vandalism or more??? He did destroy a beautiful area against the law...

Mars Bar

What I'm saying is he had enough, then he added more, now he has even less than he had to begin with! His greed went too far.

I'm glad to hear of the ruling but it can't stop there. Something has to be done with it.

It's dangerous and we have lazy idiots who park in illegal and dangerous places like along the face at the bend by the Gaelscoil.

Some12

Mars Bar wrote: »

What I'm saying is he had enough, then he added more, now he has even less than he had to begin with! His greed went too far.

I'm glad to hear of the ruling but it can't stop there. Something has to be done with it.

It's dangerous and we have lazy idiots who park in illegal and dangerous places like along the face at the bend by the Gaelscoil.

I sit corrected! Re-reading your post, after reading the above, clears that up!

He did have enough parking.