Prom closed 29 December

snubbleste

GCC & AGS to close the Prom to traffic from Blackrock east to Grattan Rd from 1200 on Tuesday.
Whoy now?
We've had worse storms and flooding. Did something happen?
http://www.galwaycity.ie/news/343/59/Severe-Weather-Expected-over-next-36-hours-in-Galway-City/

Mrs OBumble

Saving Teresa from another embarrassing broadcast out there.

LadyMayBelle

Maybe it is part to try prevent people parking their cars, going into the sea/trying to get photos etc?

HeidiHeidi

To protect eejits from themselves.

ETA - and also to prevent the emergency services having to put themselves in danger rescuing them when they get washed off.

snubbleste

Yeah but, we've had far worse storms and crap over the years..
Why close the road this time?
Surely, we need to close all roads that have trees, electricity poles, slated roofs etc etc

HeidiHeidi

I think (without knowing the area terribly well, I'll admit) that it's the combination of proximity to the huge Atlantic swell expected, very high spring tides, very strong winds and the experience of the people who decide these things, built up over previous years, of people needing protection from themselves.

Diabhal Beag

Thought this was only a yellow warning

HeidiHeidi

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Thought this was only a yellow warning

Orange warning. And like I said, in combination with tides just coming off springs and a big Atlantic swell, makes for dangerous conditions near the sea.

C.K Dexter Haven

Lot's of people in difficulty today pushing prams close to exposed areas like seafronts- it's a good thing and sensible thing in my opinion.

Mrs OBumble

In previous storms, we've seen people here giving out about the council not doing enough to warn people. This is the opposite. They cannot win!

snubbleste

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

In previous storms, we've seen people here giving out about the council not doing enough to warn people. This is the opposite. They cannot win!

They've gone too far imho.

HeidiHeidi

They really can't win, can they?

What would you have done?

Why, if it's so demonstrably and clearly going to be dangerous for the next 24 hours, would you care if it's closed? Do you want to go for a walk along the prom during the storm?

There are videos all over youtube of people with kids on piers, with the waves washing over them - of young fellas diving off the boards at Salthill into stormy waters - of people getting washed back by (and luckily not into) the sea - literally picked up off their feet and washed away - when huge waves break over the sea wall. With evidence like that to go on, why WOULDN'T they close a sea road?

Who do these people think are going to come and get them if the worst happens?

endacl

snubbleste wrote: »

Yeah but, we've had far worse storms and crap over the years..
Why close the road this time?

In years gone by, there were indeed as many idiots. There were not so many camera phones plus selfie sticks, enabling said idiots to take pointless photos of the sea without being able to keep an eye on the sea? Equal number of idiots, but an increase in the opportunities to win a Darwin Award? Best guess...

snubbleste wrote: »

Surely, we need to close all roads that have trees, electricity poles, slated roofs etc etc

Sure, you'd have to close every highway and byway in the country! The Prom ain't vital for access.

snubbleste

My query is, why now?
Why not say in other previously worse storms?
Did something happen, did someone sue the Council or something?
It's a bit of an overkill.

HeidiHeidi

snubbleste wrote: »

My query is, why now?
Why not say in other previously worse storms?
Did something happen, did someone sue the Council or something?
It's a bit of an overkill.

Maybe during previous storms they didn't realise the potential for lethal stupidity on the part of Joe Public.

Maybe experience has told them that the only way to keep the public safe from the sea is to keep them away from the sea by closing the road.

I'll ask you again - why are you bothered? Were you planning to walk or drive along the prom during the storm?

snubbleste

I'm sooooo calling Joe and demanding a Galway version of de Clontarf wall then.

snubbleste

snubbleste wrote: »

My query is, why now?
Why not say in other previously worse storms?
Did something happen, did someone sue the Council or something?
It's a bit of an overkill.

Maybe they learn from experience?

snubbleste

Deleted User wrote: »

Maybe they learn from experience?

Galway City Council?
tsk tsk tsk

WallyGUFC

The storm hasn't begun yet, how do you know it won't be as bad as previously?

nuac

Prudent precaution.

If there was a fatality or serious injury many would be complaining of breach of duty by the Council

Atlantic Dawn

Will those with businesses in the area be compensated for the closure?

HeidiHeidi

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Will those with businesses in the area be compensated for the closure?

Christ.

Words fail me.

Green Peter

Rumour has it some people park their cars on the prom in the hope that they are swamped and our goodselves thru the insurance companies get them new ones!

uck51js9zml2yt

Green Peter wrote: »

Rumour has it some people park their cars on the prom in the hope that they are swamped and our goodselves thru the insurance companies get them new ones!

This only a rumour...wouldn't happen in Ireland;)

We can be sure of one thing, that despite weather warnings and tidal/wave warnings we will see some people drown due to their stupidity in the next few days.

Green Peter

Lets hope it's kept to a minimum and emergency services personnel are safe responding to idiots

Storm 10

I am all for safety but closing Salthill prom to through traffic at midday is madness, high tide is not until 7.30pm tonight at the moment its still going out. Close the car parks and depending how the storm shapes up close the road later but not at midday

Update road still open lots of cars parked along the prom and in the car parks tide is waaaay out

Gadgetman496

Galway City Council has postponed the planned closure of the prom at Salthill this afternoon.

The prom was due to close to all traffic at 12pm, but the council says it’s now minitoring the weather conditions and tides, and will close the prom later today if necessary.

High winds and high tides are expected to lead to severe flooding in coastal parts.

snubbleste

Gadgetman496 wrote: »

Galway City Council has postponed the planned closure of the prom at Salthill this afternoon.
The prom was due to close to all traffic at 12pm, but the council says it’s now minitoring the weather conditions and tides, and will close the prom later today if necessary.
High winds and high tides are expected to lead to severe flooding in coastal parts.

Y'see, I was right
*smug* :cool:

buzz11

The flood defence equipment isn't setup at the Spanish Arch..... high tide tonight around 8pm .

Pretty pointless having the equipment if they don't use it...

Baggy Trousers

snubbleste wrote: »

My query is, why now?
Why not say in other previously worse storms?
Did something happen, did someone sue the Council or something?
It's a bit of an overkill.

I think they will get away with it because it's the Christmas period (and they could be short staffed) but I doubt they would do it during a typical working week. Only a small portion of the prom actually floods so it is overkill.

Edit: Just saw the postponement.

snubbleste

Ok, they've closed it now
Due to strengthening winds and rain, the prom is now closed to all traffic, and diversions are in place.
https://twitter.com/GalwayCityCo/status/681847198854836224

testicle

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Will those with businesses in the area be compensated for the closure?

Frank doesn't have any money.

Mrs OBumble

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Will those with businesses in the area be compensated for the closure?

No, they'll be thanking the council that they had the opportunity to sand-bag without pesky customers getting in the way.

Storm 10

How come the Council bought an inflatable barrier for 40k and they have not put it in place at Spanish Arch, only in Galway 😡

Whereisgalway

Storm 10 wrote: »

How come the Council bought an inflatable barrier for 40k and they have not put it in place at Spanish Arch, only in Galway 😡

That would be make too much sense

ben.schlomo

Whereisgalway wrote: »

That would be make too much sense

Thanks Yoda.

TerrorFirmer

Storm 10 wrote: »

How come the Council bought an inflatable barrier for 40k and they have not put it in place at Spanish Arch, only in Galway 😡

Because they've established that it won't be needed. There might be over overspill down at the Spanish Arch area, but it will be minimal.

It would be incredibly embarrassing not to deploy it in such conditions if you weren't 110% positive - so I'm sure it's a very educated decision.

It's been deployed in the past for less obviously poor weather conditions.

Atlantic Dawn

High tide there in about half an hour.

Maryam Echoing Carpet

Maryam Echoing Carpet wrote: »

......

We can be sure of one thing, that despite weather warnings and tidal/wave warnings we will see some people drown due to their stupidity in the next few days.

The news reported on some gnome swimming this afternoon. Ridiculous carry on.

Zzippy

Storm 10 wrote: »

How come the Council bought an inflatable barrier for 40k and they have not put it in place at Spanish Arch, only in Galway 😡

High tide this evening is 5m, whereas a big spring tide is ~5.6-5.7m. That's a big difference.

thesandeman

Not Galway I know, but some idiot decided to climb Carrigtwohill as well and broke his leg. It took twenty mountain rescue personnel to stretcher him down.
The mind boggles.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

thesandeman wrote: »

Not Galway I know, but some idiot decided to climb Carrigtwohill as well and broke his leg. It took twenty mountain rescue personnel to stretcher him down.
The mind boggles.

He should be charged for their time. Including danger pay. The idiot.

nuac

High tide in Galway passed. Any flooding reported?

Atlantic Dawn

thesandeman wrote: »

Not Galway I know, but some idiot decided to climb Carrigtwohill as well and broke his leg. It took twenty mountain rescue personnel to stretcher him down.
The mind boggles.

We need to start billing idiots like this or locking them up for their own good.

C.K Dexter Haven

Watch the 9' O'Clock news if you want any further evidence that this was the right decision- one stupid plonker went for a swim earlier.

uck51js9zml2yt

C.K Dexter Haven wrote: »

Watch the 9' O'Clock news if you want any further evidence that this was the right decision- one stupid plonker went for a swim earlier.

Saw this at 6. There's always one!

Also saw the rescue services looking for a submerged car on the shannon.

Atlantic Dawn

Any cars left parked in the carpark at Salthill seafront?

J.pilkington

C.K Dexter Haven wrote: »

Watch the 9' O'Clock news if you want any further evidence that this was the right decision- one stupid plonker went for a swim earlier.

Authorities / council / emergency service / volunteers etc are constantly ridiculed here, can't do any right by a few negative posters who you get the impression that they are hoping they fail in their efforts(for example a poster here essentially called some Galway business people who were fund raising cowards for not sleeping outdoors during the height of storm Desmond). Either they are over or under reacting. You can be sure they will get no credit for their actions here

From the outset the tone of this thread and from the OP was all in the hope that it would be a mild storm so they could all point fingers at the authorities from their warm homes

Anyway well done and thanks to the volunteers / authorities for their continued hard work, it hasn't been easy over the last month or so

Baggy Trousers

C.K Dexter Haven wrote: »

Watch the 9' O'Clock news if you want any further evidence that this was the right decision- one stupid plonker went for a swim earlier.

To be fair, it was not clear from the news when exactly that swimmer was in the water. I was on the prom twice today (11am and 2:30pm) and the conditions were quite pleasant and absolutely fine for the daily dip. I get that conditions worsened as we got closer to darkness but there were ample windows of opportunity for a swim earlier today. I have swam in a lot worse down there. There are windows most days, even in the winter.

Look, there are people that religiously swim in Blackrock 365 days a year. I tried to do it one year and failed miserably so I have a lot of respect for them. These people are generally very good and experienced swimmers and they know the best ways in and out of the sheltered side of the diving board. I have never heard of any of these regulars getting into trouble.

So just because the Six One news shows footage of a swimmer in Blackrock, it does not automatically mean the person is reckless or putting emergency services into danger.

Let's not all be Teresa Mannions!

martin6651

What's all the fuss about. Can a person not go for a swim without some plonker with a camera jump out from behind a rock to take his picture and plaster it all over the WWW and the news. Did he call for any help NOOOOOOO, did he know what he was doing I'm sure he did. Did he walk out alive and unhurt YES he did.

fergiesfolly

What's the story down the Spanish Arch? Has the water level receded