‘Utter shame’ that ‘beautiful’ Waterford city quayside is ‘not properly utilised’

It is an “utter shame” that the Quay in Waterford city is “not properly utilised”, a council meeting has heard.

Fianna Fáil councillor Jason Murphy made the remarks at the April meeting of the Waterford Metropolitan District.

Cllr Murphy said: “People in Waterford will be aware that the Waterford quayside here is I think the longest urban quayside on the island of Ireland.

“Everyone agrees that it is not properly utilised. I think what brought this to the fore was the southside plaza of the new pedestrian bridge.

“I have to say, it’s a great job on the plaza there. The public realm work there is second to none and it just shows you what could be done on the rest of the quayside with the desire to do it.”

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He went on to say that the lease on some of the car parks on the Quay is due to expire soon.

“It’s been brought to my attention that the central car parks on the Quay are owned by Waterford City and County Council and leased to private operators. It is my information that that lease is going to expire in the near future.

“If this is a fact, I would ask that the council would maybe look at using that space, that central quayside, in a more productive manner.

“Something along the [lines of the] public realms [work] that we have on the southside plaza.”

Cllr Murphy concluded by highlighting his opposition to the location of those car parks and calling on the council to take action.

“I think it’s an utter shame, and I think everyone would agree, that we have car parks on one of the most beautiful quaysides on the island of Ireland.

“I would hate to see an opportunity like the expiring of this lease be let pass. I would actually hate to see another lease being written for these private car park operators. I think it’s an opportunity we shouldn’t miss.”

In response, Senior Engineer Paul Johnston said that he agreed with Cllr Murphy’s comments on the new plaza beside the Clock Tower.

He went on to say that if the council was to remove the car parks from the Quay, it would have to find an alternative location for them.

Mr Johnston said: “On the overall car parking situation on the Quay, I would echo your comments on the south plaza and how well it’s turned out.

“But just to say before we would look at that we would have to provide an alternative. The parking on the Quay for example is a lifeline for the hotels that are located there and they simply wouldn’t be able to operate without it.”

He concluded by saying that Waterford City and County Council has committed to undertaking an overall review of the parking situation in the city.