The Waterford city manager Conn Murray has recommended amendments to the city’s draft development plan.
Murray has recommended the council pass a proposed amendment from Waterford Crystal which acknowledges its Kilbarry site as a tourism destination and supports the development of additional tourism-related facilities there.
Waterford Crystal’s proposed amendment suggested ‘‘the Council acknowledges the role of Waterford Crystal as a tourism destination and will encourage the development of additional tourism-based facilities on the Crystal site at Kilbarry. In addition, with the adjoining ‘opportunity site’, there may be opportunities for tour ism-based facilities, including hotel/conference accommodation, for tourist-related retailing linked to the existing premium brand outlet.”
The county manager has amended that slightly and suggests it should instead state that the council ‘‘will encourage the expansion of the tourism product at the Crystal site so as to create a nationally significant tourism facility. The facility may include tourism-based retailing linked to the existing premium brand outlet. In addition there may be opportunities on the overall opportunity site at this location to provide for additional tourism based facilities.”
Tony O’Reilly’s Waterford Crystal and Sean Mulryan’s Ballymore Properties are set to spend €300 million on the so-called ‘‘opportunity site’’. It is expected to brand itself as an ‘‘international lifestyle development’’.
The project is still being planned by Ballymore and Waterford Crystal.
Meanwhile, Noel Frisby and Tesco have made a submission in relation to the Lisduggan district centre, as king for a statement to be included in the development plan in order to facilitate the redevelopment of the centre.
The city manager has recommended an amendment which states the current design of the centre is obsolete and needs to be redeveloped.
‘‘The council will encourage its redevelopment, in the context of the regeneration of the Larchville/Lisduggan area.
‘‘The redevelopment may include the provision of a superstore, which in addition to its convenience offer, can include provision for low to middle order comparison goods of up to 1,460 square metres net floor area,” the manager’s report states.
However, Frisby’s opposition to plans for retail facilities at Ballybeg and Carrickphierish on the grounds they could inhibit the redevelopment of Larchville left the city manager unmoved. ‘‘It is considered that the planned proposals for both areas are reasonable and should be adopted unaltered,” he wrote.
Last week, the city council unveiled Project 2014,a plan that will see more than €2.4 billion invested in Waterford over the next seven years.
Major elements include a €310 million Government Quarter on a 3.7-acre site at Catherine Street, Bolton Street and The Mall.
Waterford City Council will be headquartered in this area alongside 200 civil servants from the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government, and personnel from the Courts Service.
The mixed-use scheme will include three large office buildings and a 600 space multi-storey car park on a council-owned site that is currently under-utilised.
Space freed up by the relocation of the public service to Government Quarter will free up space around Arundel Square, the Suir and The Mall, and a new National Viking Museum is earmarked for the area.
New retail, residential and hotel developments worth more than €300 million are also to be developed in the city centre, according to the council.
A further €625 million is set to be spent by the private sector on regeneration projects on both sides of the River Suir in the city centre.
A new pedestrian bridge will link Waterford’s quays and city centre.
Conn Murray said a multiagency coordination group is being put in place to steer Project 2014 and a forward planning unit is also being established within the council to ‘‘guide appropriate and sustainable development’’.
Sunday Business Post
Showing posts with label county waterford planners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label county waterford planners. Show all posts
Sunday, 24 June 2007
Monday, 4 June 2007
Permission granted for train station redevelopment
WORK on re-developing Plunkett Station in Waterford could begin in a number of weeks following the local council’s decision to grant planning permission.
Iarnród Éireann’s 17 million re-development plan has been given the go-ahead, subject to 20 conditions, and will get under way in the near future if there is no appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
The work is expected to take about 18 months to complete.
Local Green Party councillor Brendan McCann had objected to the proposal when it was submitted to Waterford City Council.
The project includes a 328-bay multi-storey car park as well as bus interchange facilities, a customer area, retail units, and a ticket office and toilets.
A mezzanine level will include staff toilets and a canteen.
Brendan McCann’s objection centred around the planned car park, while he also said that the red-brick facade of the building should be kept. He described the proposed building as “ugly” and “visually obtrusive” in his objection.
Plunkett Station’s current guise dates back to 1965 and, according to Iarnród Éireann in its renewal plans, new parking capacity and space were long overdue.
Increases in the amount of people using the rail service to and from Waterford and the ongoing investment in rolling stock and tracks also prompted the decision to try and upgrade the station, according to the rail company.
Much local concern centres on traffic problems in front of the station, with long delays experienced by motorists at the adjacent Rice Bridge at peak times.
A traffic consultant is reviewing the traffic problems at the problematic junction, as well as all of the N25 corridor, which sees an average of about 40,000 vehicles every day.
Much attention is focussed on the difficulties experienced by motorists coming out of Plunkett Station, into rush-hour traffic, and the delays faced by traffic coming from both directions on the N25, when trying to turn onto the bridge and into the city centre at the roundabout.
Irish Examiner
Iarnród Éireann’s 17 million re-development plan has been given the go-ahead, subject to 20 conditions, and will get under way in the near future if there is no appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
The work is expected to take about 18 months to complete.
Local Green Party councillor Brendan McCann had objected to the proposal when it was submitted to Waterford City Council.
The project includes a 328-bay multi-storey car park as well as bus interchange facilities, a customer area, retail units, and a ticket office and toilets.
A mezzanine level will include staff toilets and a canteen.
Brendan McCann’s objection centred around the planned car park, while he also said that the red-brick facade of the building should be kept. He described the proposed building as “ugly” and “visually obtrusive” in his objection.
Plunkett Station’s current guise dates back to 1965 and, according to Iarnród Éireann in its renewal plans, new parking capacity and space were long overdue.
Increases in the amount of people using the rail service to and from Waterford and the ongoing investment in rolling stock and tracks also prompted the decision to try and upgrade the station, according to the rail company.
Much local concern centres on traffic problems in front of the station, with long delays experienced by motorists at the adjacent Rice Bridge at peak times.
A traffic consultant is reviewing the traffic problems at the problematic junction, as well as all of the N25 corridor, which sees an average of about 40,000 vehicles every day.
Much attention is focussed on the difficulties experienced by motorists coming out of Plunkett Station, into rush-hour traffic, and the delays faced by traffic coming from both directions on the N25, when trying to turn onto the bridge and into the city centre at the roundabout.
Irish Examiner
Monday, 26 March 2007
It’s ‘tyranny’ say residents and landowners
RESIDENTS and landowners opposed to the proposed new walkway along the old railway line from Dungarvan to Waterford, have accused the County Council of “tyranny” over 70 families they say will be badly affected by the plan.
The ‘Ballinroad to Kilmeaden’ group have branded the walkway as “stupendous” and say the Council appears to have lost all respect for the well-being of those living in the vicinity of the line. At a recent meeting, county councillors voted by a majority of 13 to 9 to proceed with phase one of the walkway from Ballinroad Cross to the level crossing in the townland of Durrow (on the Dungarvan end).
The vote came following a hour-long debate in the Council Chambers where nearly half the councillors - including Liam Brasil from Kilmac, Kieran O’Riain from Ballymacarbry and Kilmeaden’s Pat Leahy - voiced their stringent opposition to the plans based on the concerns of locals residents and landowners.
A total of 55 objections/submissions were received when the phase one plans went on public display.
Forty-two of those were from people purporting to be members of the ‘Ballinroad to Kilmeaden’ group either claiming ownership of part of the lands or expressing concerns about issues such as trespassing, fencing and insurance.
Following the outcome of the meeting, the group of residents and landowners have now lambasted the decision to proceed with the project.
They’re opposed to the walkway for an “abundance of reasons” they say.
Their safety, security and peace of mind would be at risk; anti-social behaviour would become a big problem; temporary caravan-type camp sites would continually be set up along it; the cost and maintenance would be
“enormous” and there could even be frequent confrontations between residents/farmers and walk-ers if “nerves became frayed”.
“Thankfully there are literally dozens of walkways in Co. Waterford at present which a lot of us avail of,” said the group’s chairman, Pat Fennell. “An additional and expensive walkway is not required and is against the declared wishes of the vast majority of people living on and adjoining the line.
He said the plan of the County Council was, in essence, a form of tyranny.
“Over 70 families will be badly affected by this. Most of it (the walkway) is concealed and concealed walkways are dangerous places.
Has the County Council lost all respect whatsoever for the wellbeing of these families? Did those council-lors who voted for the walkway not realise that this imposition is something that not only this generation of residents and farmers will have to cope with but so will all future generations.”
“How can any local authority be so reckless in the trampling on the rights and dignity of over 70 families - shame on you.”
“Double shame on you for pretending that tourists would come to Waterford to view the fields and fences of Durrow and Faha from a railway line.
Instead a fraction of the money earmarked for this stupendous walkway should be spent on the maintenance and upkeep of existing walkways which are overgrown and vandalised in many areas,” he said, adding that some local walking clubs had already contacted residents to assure them they would not be using the walkway in respect of their privacy.
At the Council meeting where the vote was taken, the Council’s Director of Community and Enterprise Brian White said the authority had made every effort to consult with residents and landowners and address their concerns.
Meanwhile, County Manager Ray O’Dwyer assured that the plug would be pulled on the project if it didn’t prove as successful as was hoped.
Jennifer Long
© Waterford News and Star
The ‘Ballinroad to Kilmeaden’ group have branded the walkway as “stupendous” and say the Council appears to have lost all respect for the well-being of those living in the vicinity of the line. At a recent meeting, county councillors voted by a majority of 13 to 9 to proceed with phase one of the walkway from Ballinroad Cross to the level crossing in the townland of Durrow (on the Dungarvan end).
The vote came following a hour-long debate in the Council Chambers where nearly half the councillors - including Liam Brasil from Kilmac, Kieran O’Riain from Ballymacarbry and Kilmeaden’s Pat Leahy - voiced their stringent opposition to the plans based on the concerns of locals residents and landowners.
A total of 55 objections/submissions were received when the phase one plans went on public display.
Forty-two of those were from people purporting to be members of the ‘Ballinroad to Kilmeaden’ group either claiming ownership of part of the lands or expressing concerns about issues such as trespassing, fencing and insurance.
Following the outcome of the meeting, the group of residents and landowners have now lambasted the decision to proceed with the project.
They’re opposed to the walkway for an “abundance of reasons” they say.
Their safety, security and peace of mind would be at risk; anti-social behaviour would become a big problem; temporary caravan-type camp sites would continually be set up along it; the cost and maintenance would be
“enormous” and there could even be frequent confrontations between residents/farmers and walk-ers if “nerves became frayed”.
“Thankfully there are literally dozens of walkways in Co. Waterford at present which a lot of us avail of,” said the group’s chairman, Pat Fennell. “An additional and expensive walkway is not required and is against the declared wishes of the vast majority of people living on and adjoining the line.
He said the plan of the County Council was, in essence, a form of tyranny.
“Over 70 families will be badly affected by this. Most of it (the walkway) is concealed and concealed walkways are dangerous places.
Has the County Council lost all respect whatsoever for the wellbeing of these families? Did those council-lors who voted for the walkway not realise that this imposition is something that not only this generation of residents and farmers will have to cope with but so will all future generations.”
“How can any local authority be so reckless in the trampling on the rights and dignity of over 70 families - shame on you.”
“Double shame on you for pretending that tourists would come to Waterford to view the fields and fences of Durrow and Faha from a railway line.
Instead a fraction of the money earmarked for this stupendous walkway should be spent on the maintenance and upkeep of existing walkways which are overgrown and vandalised in many areas,” he said, adding that some local walking clubs had already contacted residents to assure them they would not be using the walkway in respect of their privacy.
At the Council meeting where the vote was taken, the Council’s Director of Community and Enterprise Brian White said the authority had made every effort to consult with residents and landowners and address their concerns.
Meanwhile, County Manager Ray O’Dwyer assured that the plug would be pulled on the project if it didn’t prove as successful as was hoped.
Jennifer Long
© Waterford News and Star
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