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By Waterford City & County Council

Public Participation: Identification of Bathing Waters

Local authorities must identify official bathing areas in their area every year so that they can be monitored for safety, water quality and their level of use.  To help with this process, Waterford City and County Council is asking people who swim at beaches, lakes and rivers to tell them if they think they should maintain existing designated bathing waters designations or give a new official bathing area designation to areas that are commonly used for swimming, but not identified at the moment.

Under European and Irish law, Irish local authorities must identify bathing waters each year so that these areas can be monitored to ensure they meet stringent microbiological water quality standards. In some cases, the official bathing areas are also the areas where local authorities focus their resources providing lifeguards during the summer season.  These laws also require that the local authority prepares detailed descriptions or profiles for each of the identified bathing water sites that describe not just the bathing area but also areas in the surface waters catchment area that could be a source of pollution. The profiles include an assessment the risk of pollution and what action would be taken if pollution occurs.

If you are a regular swimmer and want to help your Council decide which bathing areas should be classified as such, it might be helpful to consider the following:

  • How your swimming area has been used up to now;
  • How many people use the site;
  • What facilities exist at the site and how accessible it is;
  • Any safety issues.

If you wish to propose your favourite beach/river etc as a new bathing water site or comment on an existing site please do so online via www.waterfordcouncil.ie

Closing date for submissions to Waterford City and County Council is 17th July 2019. 

ENDS

Note to editors: Local authorities are required under the Bathing Waters Directive and the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 (SI No 79 of 2008) to identify bathing waters on an annual basis. The Directive requires that water quality at all designated bathing waters meets stringent microbiological standards in order to protect the health of people who choose to bathe there.

 

By Waterford City & County Council

Waterford Council features well in NOAC LA Satisfaction Survey 2019

Over the past 2 years, NOAC (The National Oversight & Audit Commission) has worked with IPSOS MRBI to survey public attitudes to Local Authorities and the public’s satisfaction with their own Local Authority. The 10 largest LA’s were surveyed in 2018 and Waterford City and County Council was included in the 10 medium sized LA’s to be surveyed this year. The interviews took place in March 2019 and the results for Waterford City and County Council are really positive.

The headline figures are that 65% of Waterford people surveyed are satisfied with their Local Council (Net satisfied 56%), Waterford Council topped the league at 41% in Providing Value for Money (Net is low at 28%) and 67% of Waterford people surveyed feel WCCC is “Doing a Good Job” which is much higher than the net figure of 51%. The Council also scored highly in terms of “Promoting Economic activity”, being “Open and Transparent” and people feeling Informed by the Local Council.

The Council scored better than anybody else in the 5 most important services to the public (namely Roads Maintenance, Road Safety, Affordable Housing, Playgrounds/Parks and Protecting The Environment).

When compared with the large local authorities as surveyed in 2018, analysis would place Waterford in the top two or three of the 20 medium and large sized local authorities in terms of public rating, despite disparity in resource availability with the larger authorities. While a satisfaction rating of 65% does not seem extremely high, when one is cognisant of the many regulatory functions a Council discharges, the rating compares very favourably with peers.

The overall perception of the Council is driven by many factors but above all else is informed by the quality of services we deliver and by the thousands and thousands of interactions that we have with the public on a yearly basis across all levels of the organisation.

Speaking of the results, Council CE Michael Walsh said: “I am delighted that the surveys reflect the hard work of the many dedicated people in the organisation and would like to thank everybody for their efforts. We do and can make a difference to people’s lives. As a relatively new amalgamated organisation we have done reasonably well but equally we can improve and get even better as we collectively serve the people of Waterford.”

By Waterford City & County Council

Get ready for the GAA World Games in Waterford!

Getting ready for the GAA World Games!

Mayor John Pratt welcomes Pat Daly, GAA Director of Games Development & Research back to Waterford  

 Waterford is set to become the 3rd host of the Renault GAA World Games. The magnificent WIT Arena in Carriganore will be the venue for the majority of the action. An opening parade in Waterford City Centre will kick off proceedings in stunning fashion on the evening of July 28th, and following this, four action-packed days of Gaelic Games action across 7 pitches, comprising of 100 teams and 1300 players will ensue.

By Waterford City & County Council

Reminder: Waterford Dog Shelter – Restricted Opening Hours

Please note that Waterford City and County Council Dog Pound, Bilberry, Waterford will operate restricted opening hours between Monday, 1st and Friday, 5th July 2019, inclusive.

For inquiries and access to the Pound please, telephone 0761 10 20 20 or e-mail contact@waterfordcouncil.ie

Waterford City and County Council regrets any inconvenience caused.

By Waterford City & County Council

Reminder: Community Clean Up Grant available

Waterford City & County Council invites submissions from community groups or other community development organisations based in County Waterford, who are interested in receiving funding for a once off Community Clean Up Grant  of €500.

A grant of €500 will be made available to ten community groups who can clean up a local area this summer. Before, during and after photographs must be provided before payment can be made. Closing date for entries is 1st July 2019 at 5pm.

This grant is funded under the national Anti-Dumping Initiative 2019. 

By Waterford City & County Council

Waterford Dog Shelter – Restricted Opening Hours

Please note that Waterford City and County Council Dog Pound, Bilberry, Waterford will operate restricted opening hours between Monday, 1st and Friday, 5th July 2019, inclusive.

For inquiries and access to the Pound please, telephone 0761 10 20 20 or e-mail contact@waterfordcouncil.ie

Waterford City and County Council regrets any inconvenience caused.

By Waterford City & County Council

Proposed Traffic Calming Scheme, Vulcan Street/O’Connell Street, Waterford

Waterford City and County Council proposes to undertake the construction of a traffic calming scheme at the junction of (L5505) Vulcan Street/ (1502) O Connell Street in Waterford City. The proposed works include modification of the existing traffic lanes, construction of build outs on each corner creating greater sight lines for vehicular traffic and easier crossing points for pedestrians.

The junction will also be raised to reduce the speed of vehicular traffic entering the junction. The implementation of the traffic calming scheme with landscape strategy will create a safe environment for all road users with a strong emphasis on non-motorized road users.The main goal is to reduce vehicular speed and improve the facilities for the vulnerable road users.

Drawings are available for inspection below and during normal office hours from Wednesday 19th June to Tuesday 16th July 2019 at the Council’s Customer Services Departments in the Civic Offices, Dungarvan and Bailey’s New Street, Waterford.

The Council will consider any submissions or observations made in writing regarding the proposal. Submissions should be lodged with Ms. Aideen Jacob, Administrative Officer, Roads Department, Waterford City & County Council, Menapia Building, The Mall, Waterford or by email to ajacob@waterfordcouncil.ie to be received before 4.00pm on Tuesday 30th July, 2019.

Map

By Waterford City & County Council

Retail Strategy Review for Waterford City and County

Waterford City and County Council has appointed John Spain Associates to review the current city and county retail strategies and prepare a new unitary Waterford City and County Retail Strategy for its functional area.

Written submissions regarding the preparation of the new retail strategy are hereby invited from members of the public and other interested parties. Submissions must be made in writing to the planning authority, during the period from 24th June 2019 to 19th July 2019.

Submissions can be sent either by:

Submissions should be marked Retail Strategy Review, state the name of the person making the submission and where relevant the body represented. All submissions lodged during the period will be taken into consideration in the preparation of the new Waterford City and County Retail Strategy.

The personal information (names) collected as part of the consultation process is protected by data protection. This information will remain confidential and will not be published.

By Waterford City & County Council

€2.65m announced to bring Waterford Greenway into heart of Ireland’s Oldest City

The Mayor of Waterford today welcomed the announcement of €2.65 million investment for Waterford Greenway. The funding announced by the Minister of State Shane Ross at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport will bring the stunning Waterford Greenway into the heart of Waterford City. The Waterford Greenway is a key tourism attraction in Ireland’s Ancient East, this funding will complete the visitor experience as it will allow people to seamlessly start or finish their journey in the beautiful surrounds of Ireland’s oldest City.

Cllr John Pratt said “Waterford Greenway is an exceptional addition to the tourism offering in Waterford City and County and in its two years has fundamentally connected Waterford City and Dungarvan town.  The €2.65million funding announced today brings this stunning amenity into the heart of Waterford City and provides linkages with the North and South Quays and onwards to New Ross and Rosslare. This extension to Waterford Greenway is the culmination of an already unique and spectacular off road cycle and walking trail. Over 250,000 people have visited Waterford Greenway in 2018 and we are set for record numbers this year.”

The funding crucially provides for an extension or physical link from the current Waterford Greenway car park at Bilberry to the very heart of Waterford City and to Waterford’s North Quays via the proposed sustainable transport bridge and onward to the proposed Greenway from Waterford to New Ross.

Waterford City and County Council is now well positioned to extend to 48km an excellent piece of recreational infrastructure connecting both rural and urban environments and connecting a wider regional recreational network which will provide significant local economic value as well as providing an excellent visitor experience.

ENDS

By Waterford City & County Council

Community Clean Up Grant available

Waterford City & County Council invites submissions from community groups or other community development organisations based in County Waterford, who are interested in receiving funding for a once off Community Clean Up Grant  of €500.

A grant of €500 will be made available to ten community groups who can clean up a local area this summer. Before, during and after photographs must be provided before payment can be made. Closing date for entries is 1st July 2019 at 5pm.

This grant is funded under the national Anti-Dumping Initiative 2019. 

By Waterford City & County Council

Public Participation: Identification of Bathing Waters

Local authorities must identify official bathing areas in their area every year so that they can be monitored for safety, water quality and their level of use.  To help with this process, Waterford City and County Council is asking people who swim at beaches, lakes and rivers to tell them if they think they should maintain existing designated bathing waters designations or give a new official bathing area designation to areas that are commonly used for swimming, but not identified at the moment.

Under European and Irish law, Irish local authorities must identify bathing waters each year so that these areas can be monitored to ensure they meet stringent microbiological water quality standards. In some cases, the official bathing areas are also the areas where local authorities focus their resources providing lifeguards during the summer season.  These laws also require that the local authority prepares detailed descriptions or profiles for each of the identified bathing water sites that describe not just the bathing area but also areas in the surface waters catchment area that could be a source of pollution. The profiles include an assessment the risk of pollution and what action would be taken if pollution occurs.

If you are a regular swimmer and want to help your Council decide which bathing areas should be classified as such, it might be helpful to consider the following:

  • How your swimming area has been used up to now;
  • How many people use the site;
  • What facilities exist at the site and how accessible it is;
  • Any safety issues.

If you wish to propose your favourite beach/river etc as a new bathing water site or comment on an existing site please do so online via www.waterfordcouncil.ie

Closing date for submissions to Waterford City and County Council is 17th July 2019. 

ENDS

Note to editors: Local authorities are required under the Bathing Waters Directive and the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 (SI No 79 of 2008) to identify bathing waters on an annual basis. The Directive requires that water quality at all designated bathing waters meets stringent microbiological standards in order to protect the health of people who choose to bathe there.

 

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