Salthill going downhill?

saabsaab · 25-11-2019 6:35pm #1

I have noticed in the last year especially that Salthill is going downhill due to lack of maintenance i.e. the footpaths and the prom are cracked and in need of repair. the seats are in need of repair ans the public toilet near the car park seems to be out of order for several months. The empty tourist office is not doing much for the place too.

saabsaab · 25-11-2019 7:31pm

Have others noticed this trend?

youngrun · 25-11-2019 8:32pm

saabsaab wrote: »

I have noticed in the last year especially that Salthill is going downhill due to lack of maintenance i.e. the footpaths and the prom are cracked and in need of repair. the seats are in need of repair ans the public toilet near the car park seems to be out of order for several months. The empty tourist office is not doing much for the place too.

Tourist office should surely be reopened if the city were serious re encouraging business and visitors to area.

Whereisgalway · 25-11-2019 9:37pm

Yea salthill has so much potential and a great repetition but if they seem to want to renovate or keep it with the time. I hate seeing it wasted but our city planners have proved how in-depth they are time and time again

Paul Pott · 25-11-2019 9:41pm

Salthill should have a waterpark and a thermal spa.

Buddy74 · 25-11-2019 10:21pm

Totally agree, I walked out from town to matches in Pearse Stadium and loads of buildings looks like they needs a powerwash or a lick of paint.
I'm sure I'll get back lash from some but it looks like the council don't spend much time keeping the areas except in summer time

stampydmonkey · 25-11-2019 10:51pm

The council are an absolute joke. They have zero foresight and have to be the least proactive shower of wasters in the entire county and that's from experience of dealing with nearly every council. So so so inept.

Sathill should be thronged. It has such potential

saabsaab · 26-11-2019 12:28am

It just seems to be let drift and living on fading past glories now. I wonder has anyone local raised it with the local representatives and got a response?

ben.schlomo · 26-11-2019 7:56am

saabsaab wrote: »

It just seems to be let drift and living on fading past glories now. I wonder has anyone local raised it with the local representatives and got a response?

Why don't you, and let us know the response.

Triangle · 26-11-2019 8:13am

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Why don't you, and let us know the response.

I do know that the council has a huge debt repayment due this year because of ill advised land purchases previously. This repayment means a heap of cash is going to loans instead of to facilities and it was meant to be (at least part) paid by the government but they decided not to back in the day and left it with galway city council.

Just another example of reduced services due to bank repayments unfortunately.

saabsaab · 26-11-2019 10:25am

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Why don't you, and let us know the response.

Fair point. I actually did speak to one candidate during the local elections. He said he noted what I said and was elected. No sign of any change though.

I think much could be improved with some maintenance work that wouldn't involve capital expenditure.

Storm 10 · 26-11-2019 10:35am

The timber seating on the prom is getting dangerous now, I was sitting there during the Summer and some of the seat timber is rotten and sticking up and the varnish is peeling off them, I know it would cost but they need to install maintenance free seating or else replace the rotten timber which would probably be more expensive.

saabsaab · 26-11-2019 12:35pm

Storm 10 wrote: »

The timber seating on the prom is getting dangerous now, I was sitting there during the Summer and some of the seat timber is rotten and sticking up and the varnish is peeling off them, I know it would cost but they need to install maintenance free seating or else replace the rotten timber which would probably be more expensive.

Yes, needs action now before it's too late and someone's hurt they get sued. A stitch in time and all that. Wouldn't cost much to repair.

Bredabe · 26-11-2019 1:30pm

saabsaab wrote: »

It just seems to be let drift and living on fading past glories now. I wonder has anyone local raised it with the local representatives and got a response?

I brought it up with numerous candidates for various elected posts, a summary of what they say is.....private property and not gcc's problem, lack of gcc interest in sorting out what is their issue and local resistance to plans

Tribesman West · 26-11-2019 2:12pm

Very disappointing to see the Tourist Office in the state it is in. Salthill Prom is an iconic feature of Galway City and eyesores like this should not be allowed, they could screen it off or maybe just have it removed if there is no future use for it.

Slowly commercial ventures are making small improvements to Salthill but the City Council needs be more proactive in maintaining what is a vital tourist spot in the West.

Sadly the Councillors who were knocking on the doors for the last election seem to go to ground once elected or at least that is the impression they give at times.

harr · 26-11-2019 2:19pm

It a pity to see it going down hill again , it got very run down about 15 years ago but it had seemed to be coming back around again but on my last visit it has seemed to getting very run down and unkept looking ... it’s a pity because it has big potential being so close to town centre and it’s strange that the powers that be are ignoring the potential it has.
I know a lot of similar seaside resorts have fallen on the wayside.

beardybrewer · 26-11-2019 4:17pm

That coloured material atop the cement on the prom seems to never be maintenanced. It has eroded away in the many places throughout the city and I've never seen it fixed up. For instance, the cycle lane on the WDR is very bumpy in certain parts due to the uneven surface.

I did remember them repairing and repainting the wood benches along the prom a few years back. Seems like a really good candidate to replace with those indestructible resin 2x4 planks.

saabsaab · 26-11-2019 6:33pm

beardybrewer wrote: »

That coloured material atop the cement on the prom seems to never be maintenanced. It has eroded away in the many places throughout the city and I've never seen it fixed up. For instance, the cycle lane on the WDR is very bumpy in certain parts due to the uneven surface.

I did remember them repairing and repainting the wood benches along the prom a few years back. Seems like a really good candidate to replace with those indestructible resin 2x4 planks.

That coloured stuff what exactly was it? Seemed very smelly for a long time. The resin wood is ideal for where the seats are situated.

Worn Out · 26-11-2019 6:47pm

They were supposed to refurbish the diving board last year but that never happened.

saabsaab · 26-11-2019 9:36pm

Worn Out wrote: »

They were supposed to refurbish the diving board last year but that never happened.

I didn't know that. How long is the diving board there?

Whereisgalway · 26-11-2019 9:43pm

Bring back the platform

saabsaab · 26-11-2019 10:04pm

Whereisgalway wrote: »

Bring back the platform

??

Cheshire Cat · 26-11-2019 10:26pm

Whereisgalway wrote: »

Bring back the platform

Do you mean the raft? https://connachttribune.ie/salthill-raft-left-high-and-dry-by-safety-concerns-555/

saabsaab · 27-11-2019 11:04am

Cheshire Cat wrote: »

Do you mean the raft? https://connachttribune.ie/salthill-raft-left-high-and-dry-by-safety-concerns-555/

In the absence of a reply - I'd say so.

Its interesting that others here have noticed this downward slide too. If the public representatives aren't able or unwilling to get improvements what is the best way to get something done re maintenance.

zell12 · 27-11-2019 11:58am

saabsaab wrote: »

In the absence of a reply - I'd say so.
Its interesting that others here have noticed this downward slide too. If the public representatives aren't able or unwilling to get improvements what is the best way to get something done re maintenance.

Campaign for householders to pay higher property tax

beardybrewer · 27-11-2019 12:11pm

saabsaab wrote: »

Its interesting that others here have noticed this downward slide too.

I'm not sure if it's fair to paint the area as being on a downward slide. In fact, local businesses have formed their own community group (much like the Latin Quarter, etc) and put on a summer market and more events to bring people to the area.

It's fair to say its been more or less consistently overlooked and underfunded. The council are there every morning maintaining it and we did get the path from blackrock to the driving range back after it washed away in a storm. But big improvements or investments aren't likely. There have been long running issues like the under use of Leisureland and the tourist office being shut for decades. There have been several floods causing lots of damage too which doesn't help.

Seaside towns like Salthill can't help but show their faded glory compared to their heyday when cheap flights to Spain weren't the norm. Some of the buildings do look weather-worn but I've seen O'Reillys and Seapoint doing routine maintenance. Bailypoint had scaffolding up for what good it did. There's an interesting thread you can search up to learn about the history of the Burren Mount which in the biggest eyesore there.

However on the whole the area remains relevant and at least maintaining if not going upwards. I think the new Omniplex is a good sign for things to come and there are some great places to eat there too.

saabsaab · 27-11-2019 12:30pm

I get what you're saying but what is needed is basic maintenance i.e. paths seats made safe at least. I know that a seaside place is going to get storms but that is the case with all seaside places. Look at Lahinch it is hit with much worse weather but is restored and maintained at a high level.

beardybrewer · 27-11-2019 12:36pm

Great, no need to put the area down here when you can do something about it so.

https://www.galwaycity.ie/council-mayor-information#6

Scroll down to "Galway City West" and get calling and writing.

saabsaab · 27-11-2019 12:42pm

Would that work? If the public representatives aren't able or unwilling to get improvements is there another way to fix this. I'm not putting it down but pointing out what is to me and others obvious decline.

beardybrewer · 27-11-2019 1:10pm

saabsaab wrote: »

Would that work?

Take notes from here and knock up a quick email then copy and paste it to them all.

Also keep pestering customerservice@galwaycity.ie until they hook you up with someone in Rec & Leisure Public Walkways dept.

Post the letter here and maybe some of us might send it on too.

churchhill wrote:

Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.

Don't knock it till you try it.

ben.schlomo · 27-11-2019 2:22pm

saabsaab wrote: »

In the absence of a reply - I'd say so.

Its interesting that others here have noticed this downward slide too. If the public representatives aren't able or unwilling to get improvements what is the best way to get something done re maintenance.

Contact one of the local rags or GBFM, maybe they'd highlight the issues concerned.

27-11-2019 2:35pm

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Contact one of the local rags respected gazettes / journals or GBFM, maybe they'd highlight the issues concerned.

There fyp.

Homelander · 27-11-2019 4:13pm

saabsaab wrote: »

It just seems to be let drift and living on fading past glories now. I wonder has anyone local raised it with the local representatives and got a response?

to be fair, Pearce Flannery was constantly raising the need for works in Salthill when he was a councillor.

saabsaab · 27-11-2019 8:35pm

Some interesting suggestions to think about, thanks all. Not sure if it's worth going the apparently (failed) local representatives route. Maybe bring it further up the line?

youngrun · 28-11-2019 11:09am

saabsaab wrote: »

Some interesting suggestions to think about, thanks all. Not sure if it's worth going the apparently (failed) local representatives route. Maybe bring it further up the line?

Councillors and city manager are the local reps who should deal with this . TD maybe but bigger picture view there

Notch000 · 28-11-2019 3:18pm

we need a bike lane from city center out to blackrock, also what happened the idea of the prom being extended out to Barna ??Surely its a no brainer and would pay for itself many times over in a very short space of time, but allas they ready to throw a fortune at this 2020 COC* and lin the pockets of the hotels and publican a bit more

Whereisgalway · 28-11-2019 8:47pm

Notch000 wrote: »

we need a bike lane from city center out to blackrock, also what happened the idea of the prom being extended out to Barna ??Surely its a no brainer and would pay for itself many times over in a very short space of time, but allas they ready to throw a fortune at this 2020 COC* and lin the pockets of the hotels and publican a bit more

I doubt they’ve forgotten to lin their own along the way

saabsaab · 28-11-2019 11:01pm

Salthill still gets many visitors and on a sunny day it fills up fast facilities should reflect this.

I wasn't talking about major developments though I'm sure they would be welcome but some basicrepairs and amenities.

Mrs OBumble · 29-11-2019 9:05pm

Notch000 wrote: »

we need a bike lane from city center out to blackrock, also what happened the idea of the prom being extended out to Barna ??Surely its a no brainer and would pay for itself many times over in a very short space of time,

I fully support the idea of a totally grade-separated 2-directional cycling space.

But please do explain, how would it pay for itself?

30-11-2019 1:31am

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I fully support the idea of a totally grade-separated 2-directional cycling space.

But please do explain, how would it pay for itself?

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/greenways-ireland-tourist-numbers/

BlackEdelweiss · 30-11-2019 1:39am

The worst thing about Salthill is the amount of dogsh1t on the prom. Owners who let their dogs run free should be fined to discourage it. I know dogs love to run free but when they take a dump and you are not there to see it, who's responsibility is it to clean it up. You have to constantly walk with your head down so you dont step on any of it, it is a nightmare when you have the kids down there for a walk. I am embarrassed when I see tourists, especially foreigners walking along, sidestepping over piles of crap or worse still, walked in crap that makes even more of a mess. You dog owners should be ashamed of yourselves, you let your town down big time.

yer man! · 30-11-2019 2:03am

As it has been said here already get on to the council and make your observations known. When I lived in Galway years ago I was constantly on to the council to get hedges cut, footpaths repaired, lines repainted on the road, grass cut, etc. Simple things, I don't know if me emailing and badgering ever actually influenced my observations being taken care of but within a few weeks of my query the issue was resolved or I was given a detailed explanation of the plan for the area.

Seriously you'd be surprised at how much is overlooked by the council. A lot of the time the resources are there, just takes the locals to get it going.

Wompa1 · 30-11-2019 7:00pm

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

The worst thing about Salthill is the amount of dogsh1t on the prom. Owners who let their dogs run free should be fined to discourage it. I know dogs love to run free but when they take a dump and you are not there to see it, who's responsibility is it to clean it up. You have to constantly walk with your head down so you dont step on any of it, it is a nightmare when you have the kids down there for a walk. I am embarrassed when I see tourists, especially foreigners walking along, sidestepping over piles of crap or worse still, walked in crap that makes even more of a mess. You dog owners should be ashamed of yourselves, you let your town down big time.

The dog sh1t and litter around Galway in general is one of the worst things about it. The first time I brought my wife to visit, it's the first thing she noticed.

saabsaab · 02-12-2019 12:25pm

I had forgotten about the dog**** but it can be a problem. I think it's not as bad as it was either most owners are getting responsible or the council are better at cleaning it up.

As a regular visitor to Salthill I see no changes to the issues raised in the thread, since my last visit a while back.

Anybody else raise these issues with the authorities or elsewhere?

saabsaab · 03-12-2019 5:43pm

Salthill is not just for Salthill even Galway people. it's on the wild atlantic way and attracts visitors from all over it should be kept better that it is at present.

saabsaab · 05-12-2019 5:23pm

I see that Refurbishment works are to be carried out at Mutton Island lighthouse.

I'm not against this but they would need to put in some security fencing/cameras to stop it being attacked again like before. It also doesn't get many visitors as the prom which should be a higher priority.

saabsaab · 05-12-2019 8:45pm

Has anyone been to the lighthouse? Is it even open to the public?

Storm 10 · 05-12-2019 9:12pm

saabsaab wrote: »

Has anyone been to the lighthouse? Is it even open to the public?

Not open to the public which it should be, I think they could have placed the treatment plant in a way that it would not be obscured from the shore shame really

saabsaab · 05-12-2019 9:47pm

Storm 10 wrote: »

Not open to the public which it should be, I think they could have placed the treatment plant in a way that it would not be obscured from the shore shame really

Did you or anyone ever go to the top of it since the causeway was opened?

topcat77 · 09-12-2019 10:46am

i visited a few years back with the annual "ARCHITECTURE AT THE EDGE" festival. At the time you had to go through the treatment plant to gain access to the lighthouse. It was in the process of being renovated back then. Enjoyable visit and actual managed to go to the top of the lighthouse.

saabsaab · 09-12-2019 6:19pm

Sounds interesting. Did you need special permission or have you contacts there?

Salthill going downhill?

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