Galway Bay fm newsroom – Galway County and City Councils are coming under fire for failing to address conditions at the Carrowbrowne halting site on the Headford Road.
It follows a serious protest held at the site last week to highlight what residents called ‘third world’ conditions, amid concerns over a long-standing and potentially hazardous smell in the area.
Bridget Kelly of Galway Traveller Movement says that the attitude of the local authority seems to be ‘business as usual’ – with no sign of action being taken on the crisis.
She says that the site, which is home to 40 families, is suffering a rat infestation, has no fire detectors or fire fighting equipment, and is currently without heating or hot water.
It’s claimed that the City’s Council’s slow response to the situation stems from a vacancy in a management position for the Traveller Accommodation Plan programme.
Bridget Kelly says that immediate and urgent action is required from the local authorities.
Ger McGaugh has been campaigning for better conditions at Carrowbrowne for several years – he says it’s unacceptable that conditions like those at the site can exist in 2015.