Residents living next to the grounds of University Hospital Galway have vowed to oppose plans to locate a new storage facility for radioactive waste within metres of their homes.

The Newcastle Park residents have expressed alarm at plans to turn a disused pumphouse, just over their backwalls, into a 17.2 square metre storage facility.

Yesterday, Councillor Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green Party) said that he would also be objecting to the plans — and he has called on the UHG management to find an ‘offsite’ location instead.

Concerns arose when last week’s Galway City Tribune revealed that an unsuitable store was still being used, even though the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) had expressed unhappiness with it six years ago.

An inspection of the existing facility, located on the fifth floor of the hospital, found that it was “unsuitable” back in February 2002. Hospital authorities were also ordered to contact the Garda National Crime Prevention Office in order to discuss security measures which needed to be put in place for the new site.

Cllr Ó Brolcháin pointed out that the Health Service Executive (HSE)was obliged to take account of the “precautionary principle” which was enshrined in the Connacht Waste Management Plan, the City Development Plan, and EU legislation.

“Local residents are ............................