'It’s causing a lot of nuisance' - Waterford residents upset at ‘boy-racer activity’

“Boy-racer activity” on the Cork Road in Waterford city is “causing a lot of upset” for local residents, a council meeting has heard.

Social Democrats councillor Mary Roche raised the issue at the April meeting of the Waterford Metropolitan District.

Cllr Roche said: “My third issue is in relation to the car park on the Cork Road at JYSK Affordable Luxuries & Necessities.

“After hours, this car park is open 24/7 and it’s been used as kind of a viewing area for cars tearing up and down the Cork Road, revving engines and some kind of boy-racer activity.

“It’s causing a lot of nuisance to residents of the Cork Road estates, who are complaining to me.”

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She continued by calling on Waterford City and County Council to take action on the issue.

“I wrote myself to the owners in 2023 but to no avail. At that time, it was owned by MMM Limited with an address at Boland's on the Cork Road in Waterford city.

“I’m just wondering if someone from the council can actually make contact there and see if, like the Woodie’s car park, that can close once the premises have closed.”

She concluded by saying the activity was “causing a lot of upset” for local residents.

In response to Cllr Roche, Senior Engineer Paul Johnston emphasised that the car park is in private ownership.

While he said that there may be acceptable reasons why the owners keep the car park open, he said that the council could reach out to them on the issue.