An over-concentration of public houses in parts of Galway city centre has prompted the corporation to propose a ban on all new pub developments in certain areas in the new Draft City Development Plan.
Councillors and city planners have proposed a blanket ban on premises being bought with the intention of turning them into public houses in the High Street, Quay Street, Dominick Street and Woodquay areas.
The new plan proposes that the corporation should not allow the enlargement of existing premises, except within the confines of the existing site on these named streets, particularly not for a change of use to licensed premises.
Mr Des Kenny, of Kenny Bookshops on High Street, welcomed the plan. "If there was another pub put into this area, it would become known as a street that only opens up at night time," he said.
"Last summer we saw far too many people walking the streets with pints in their hands."
