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Road Closures for Waterford Viking Marathon – June 25th

waterford-viking-marathon-logoDue to the Waterford Viking Marathon taking place on this Saturday the 25th June 2016, there will be several temporary road closures in place on the day.

Outlined here are the restrictions and road numbers with approximate times.  We wish all competitors the best of luck!

 

  • R680, The Mall 8.00a.m. – 10.30a.m.
  • R680, The Quay 8.30a.m. – 10.30a.m.
  • R675, Tramore Road 9.30a.m. – 3.30p.m. (from Tramore Road Roundabout to Kingfisher Entrance)

Please be aware there will be rolling closures on the following roads in Waterford City from 8.45a.m. – 11a.m.

  • L1502 O’Connell Street
  • L5501 Gladstone Street
  • L5506 Vulcan Street
  • L90015 Penrose Lane
  • L9109 Barronstrand Street
  • L5535 Conduit Lane
  • L5534 Exchange Street
  • L90018 Henrietta Street
  • L90020 Greyfriars
  • L90021 Baileys New Street
  • L90025 Colbeck Street
  • L5530 Lady Lane
  • L1527 Michael Street
  • L1525 Patrick Street (From its junction with Stephen Street)
  • L90357 Alexander Street
  • L5531 Peter Street
  • R683 Lombard Street
  • R683 William Street
  • R683 Newtown Road
  • L902206 Park Road
  • L90309 Water Street
  • L5524 Lower Newtown Road
  • R683 Dunmore Road (From Maypark Lane Roundabout to Junction with Passage Rd)
  • R709 Passage Road
  • R860 Passage Road
  • R860 Johns Hill
  • R708 South Parade
  • R708 Otteran’s Place
  • R708 Catherine Street
  • R680 Parnell Street
  • R860 John Street
  • R708 Ballytruckle Road
  • R709 Inner Ring Road (From its Junction with Johns Hill to Lower Grange)
  • R708 Lower Grange (From The Folly Roundabout to Outer Ring Road)
  • R710 Left Lane on East Bound Carriageway of Outer Ring Road (From Airport Road Roundabout to Couse Bridge Roundabout)
  • R680 Cork Road (from its Junction with Ballybeg Drive to the RSC)
  • L1520 Old Tramore Road (From Outer Ring Road to Inner Ring Road)
  • R709 Inner Ring Road (From the Folly Roundabout to Tramore Road Roundabout)

There will also be Traffic Disruption on the following Roads in the Tramore Area of County Waterford from 10.00a.m. – 3p.m.

  • L4063
  • L4061 Ballykinsella Road
  • R685 Pickardstown Cross
  • L4340 Sommerville Roundabout to Lower Promenade
  • L4145 Lower Promenade
  • L4144 Strand Road
  • L4125 Strand Street
  • L4162 Galway’s Hill
  • L4116 Strand Street (From its junction with Queen Street to Galway’s Hill)
  • L4162 Turkey Road
  • L4162 Lower Branch Road
  • L4162 Waterford Road
  • L4146 Old Riverstown Road
  • L4144 Riverstown Road

Molly Keane Creative Writing Award 2016 – winner announced

Niamh MacCabe, Winner of the Molly Keane Creative Writing Award 2016
Niamh MacCabe, Winner of the Molly Keane Creative Writing Award 2016

Waterford City & County Council’s Arts Office is pleased to announce that the winner of the national Molly Keane Creative Writing Award 2016 is Niamh MacCabe  from  Co. Leitrim with a short story titled ‘Golden Stone Territory’.

Niamh MacCabe was born in Dublin. She grew up in Paris, in north-west Ireland, and in Washington DC, where she graduated as a visual artist from the Corcoran School of Art. She worked overseas in the Animated Film industry. She now lives in North Leitrim with her two children.

Previously she has been highly commended in the Books Ireland Magazine Award, got a Special Mention in the Galley Beggar Press Award, came second in the People’s College Competition, was shortlisted for the Allingham Festival Flash Fiction Prize and the Carried in Waves Award. She was longlisted for the Fish Short Story and Fish Memoir Prizes.

In 2016, Niamh won second place in the Bare Fiction Magazine Award, got a Special Mention in the Fabula Press Nivalis Competition, was shortlisted for the Fish Prize, the Cúirt New Writing Award and Mslexia Short Story Competition, she was longlisted for the Colm Toibín Short Story Award and was a Finalist in the Atlantis Short Story Competition.

She is published in the  Aesthetica Anthology, The Incubator Journal, and Bare Fiction Magazine.

Niamh MacCabe’s story ‘Golden Stone Territory’ is the nineteenth winner of the Molly Keane Creative Writing Award run by Waterford City & County Council’s Arts Office with support from the Arts Council and by kind permission of the Keane family. Niamh read her winning story at a presentation ceremony during the IMMRAMA Festival, Lismore (18/6/2016) and was presented with prize money of €500 and a commemorative scroll.

Margaret Organ, Arts Officer also extended congratulations to the Waterford writers who were awarded bursary support to attend the annual Molly Keane Writers Retreat Week in Ardmore this August. The recipients are James Hyde, Lismore and Emma Penruddock, Clashmore.

Road Closure Notices – Kilmacthomas & Balleighteragh

2016-06-16_1455The following roads will be closed at the dates mentioned

  • N25 at Kilmacthomas
    from 7 p.m. on Friday 22nd July to 7 a.m. on Saturday 23rd July 2016, to facilitate the construction of an overbridge at Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford as part of the Waterford Greenway project.
    For alternative routes, see here.
  • County Road L-3004 at Balleighteragh West
    from 27th June to 16th July 2016, to facilitate water mains installations.
    For alternative routes, see here.

Waterford Bike Week Programme Launched!

2016-06-15_1101National Bike Week 2016 will take place from Saturday 11th to Sunday 19th June, with bike related events taking place right around the country. Waterford is no different and in fact, we have a very strong tradition where Bike Week is concerned.

In all there are 37 events taking place right across Waterford City and County over the course of the week to suit all ages and fitness levels.  More information is available here.

The programme is targeted primarily at those new or returning to cycling or those who just want to enjoy a leisurely spin with friends and family!

Material Amendments to Development Standards Variation

2016-06-15_0916Notice of Proposed Material Alterations to Variation No. 1 to;

  • Waterford City Development Plan 2013 – 2019
  • Waterford County Development Plan 2011 – 2017
  • Dungarvan Town Development Plan 2012 – 2018

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 13 of the Planning & Development Acts 2000 as amended and Article 13 of the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 as amended and Article 6 of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC, that the Members of Waterford City & County Council having considered Proposed Variation No. 1 to the Waterford City Development Plan 2013-2019, Waterford County Development Plan 2011-2017 and the Dungarvan Town Development Plan 2012-2018, and the Chief Executive Report thereon have resolved that Proposed Variation No.1 relating to the above Plans be altered. The proposed modifications constitute a material alteration of the Draft Variation.

The likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the proposed material alterations have been assessed. The Planning Authority has determined that neither a Strategic Environmental Assessment nor Appropriate Assessment is required to be carried out with respect to the proposed material alterations.

The purpose of the Variation is primarily to delete the existing Development Management Chapter contained in each Development Plan being Chapter 13 of the Waterford City Development Plan, and Chapter 10 in both the Waterford County Development Plan and Dungarvan Town Development Plan (except for specific sections relating to Zoning Objectives and Land Use Matrix in the Waterford County Development Plan and Dungarvan Town Development Plan which will remain in effect) and replace these chapters with a new Development Management Chapter in order to bring about uniform development management standards to apply across the complete Planning Authority area of Waterford City & County Council during the remaining lifespan of these existing Development Plans.

A copy of the proposed material alterations to the Draft Variation No. 1 to each of the above listed Development Plans together with the Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening report and the Appropriate Assessment Screening report with respect to the proposed material alterations will be available for inspection from Wednesday the 15th of June 2016 to 5pm on Wednesday the 13th of July 2016 at the following locations;

  • Waterford City & County Council Planning Department, Menapia Building, The Mall, Waterford City (9.30am – 1.00pm, and 2.00pm – 4.00pm Monday to Friday).
  • Waterford City & County Council, Planning Department, Davitts Quay, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford (9.30am – 1.00pm, and 2.00pm – 4.00pm Monday to Friday).

The proposed material alterations to the Draft Variation No. 1 are also available for inspection on Waterford City & County Councils website at www.waterfordcouncil.ie

Making a Submission / Observation
Written submissions or observations should be addressed and marked ‘Proposed Material Alterations to the Draft Variation No. 1’ and submitted to Waterford City & County Council Planning Department, Menapia Building, The Mall, Waterford City  or via email to dmvariation2016@waterfordcouncil.ie  within the period Wednesday the 15th  of June 2016 to 5pm on Wednesday the 13th of July 2016. Submissions made by email must include the full name and address of the person making the submission and where relevant, the body or organisation represented.

Written submissions or observations with respect to Proposed Material Alterations to the Draft Variation No. 1 made to the Planning Department within the above said period will be taken into consideration before the making of a decision on the Proposed Draft Variation No. 1.

Signed:

Lar Power
Director of Economic Development and Planning
15th of June 2016

Renewable Energy Strategy 2016 – 2030

2016-06-14_1724This strategy forms part of the Waterford City Development Plan 2012-2018, Waterford County Development Plan 2011-2017 and Dungarvan Town Plan 2012-2018, and will be adopted by way of variation to these plans, respectively.

It is underpinned by a Strategic Environmental Screening Assessment and a Habitats Directive Screening Assessment. These assessments are attached as appendices to this document.

See the Renewable Energy page on our website for full documentation and details.

Mayor hosts Reception for the crew of Brian Ború and Sail Training Ireland

2016-06-14_1628Well Buoy!

Mayor of Waterford City and County Council hosts a Mayoral Reception for the crew of the Brian Ború and Sail Training Ireland.

Mayor of Waterford City and County Council, Cllr. John Cummins, hosted a Mayoral Reception for the crew of the sailing ship Brian Ború, after its five day voyage with Sail Training Ireland and a group of 6 trainees in City Hall, Waterford on Friday 10th of June 2016.

Those attending the reception included Chairperson of Sail Training Ireland Seamus McLoughlin, The Captain of the Brian Ború Tony McLoughlin, crew members of the Brian Ború and the 6 trainees, Billy Duggan of Waterford City and County Council’s Economic Development Department and several Councillors.

The Brian Ború which has its homeport in Waterford at the City Marina provides a lower level stepping stone for young people with no experience to get a first taste of Sail Training. It is currently the only fully licensed wooden, traditionally rigged sail training vessel in the island of Ireland, quite a coup for Waterford.

On the 29th of May the Brian Ború set sail with 10 trainees (18 to 25 year olds) and finally led a fleet of Tall Ships into Dublin Port on Friday 3rd June to celebrate the commencement of a spectacular Riverfest 2016. The return voyage with another group of trainees (16 to 18 year olds) began with their embarkment on the Brian Ború in Dublin on the 5th June. While sailing South to Waterford they had a spectacular trip with warm welcomes in Arklow, Rosslare, Kilmore Quay, and Dunmore East. The young trainees have steadily increased in self confidence, social interaction, ability to take responsibility, and various maritime skills on a daily basis. The highlights included having the opportunity to heave- to off the Saltee Islands last Wednesday afternoon in glorious sunshine to swim, dive, row the ship’s boat and generally enjoy the wildlife and scenery including tracking a group of Risso dolphins and photographing puffins and guillemots.

Speaking at the reception Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. John Cummins said ‘the beautiful Brian Ború Sailing Ship is such an addition to the Waterford Quays. I have sailed on the Brian Ború and the experience is something unique’

Waterford City and County Council along with Waterford Area Partnership and Waterford Port Authority are party to a bursary arrangement with the Brian Ború and Sail Training Ireland. Waterford City and County Council contributed €5000 to this bursary.

Sail Training Ireland is the National Sail Training Organisation and a Charity with youth development at its core. It creates Sail Training Voyages for Young People from all Backgrounds and Abilities.

Sail training requires participants to confront many demanding challenges, both physical and emotional. It is an activity that inspires self-confidence and the acceptance of personal responsibility. It promotes an acceptance of others whatever their social or cultural backgrounds, and develops a willingness to take controlled risks. For most who undertake sail training on Tall Ships it is a positive life-changing experience.

Waterford is looking forward to the visit next week of the Morgenster a 50m Tall Ship which will have trainees on board from the north and south of Ireland. The Morgenster will be berthed at the Port of Waterford pontoon on Waterford’s Quay and open for pre-booked tours from 11am-2.30pm on Saturday, June 18. A limited number of tour tickets will go on sale at a cost of just €10 for a group of four with all proceeds going to Waterford River Rescue. Tickets can be purchased through the Theatre Royal box office– call 051 874 402 or visit www.theatreroyal.ie.  Waterford was host to the International Tall Ships Race in 2005 and 2011.

ENDS

For more information contact:

Claire Hartley
Waterford City and County Council
chartley@waterfordcouncil.ie
0761 10 2549

Temporary Road Closure – An Grianán, Dungarvan

2016-06-14_1259Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 11 Subsection (1) (b) (iii) Roads Act 1993 that Waterford City and County Council propose to declare the above mentioned road to be Public Road.

A map indicating the road to be taken in charge is available for inspection during normal office opening hours by interested members of the Public for a period of one month up to and including 13th July 2016 at the following locations:-

  • Roads Dept, Waterford City and County Council, Civic Offices, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.
  • Roads Dept, Waterford City & County Council, Menapia Building, The Mall, Waterford.

Submissions or observations with respect to the proposal to declare the road to be a Public Road may be made in writing to the Director of Services, Roads, HR and Emergency Services, Waterford City and County Council, City Hall, The Mall, Waterford not later than 4pm on 27th July 2016.

Paul Daly
15th June 2016
A/Director of Service
Roads, HR & Emergency Services

Public Participation: Identification of Bathing Waters

2016-06-14_0922Local 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 & County Council are 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 drop us a line at http://www.waterfordcouncil.ie/administration/complaintform.htm

Closing date for submissions Waterford City & County Council is 28th July 2016. For further information please email bathing@waterfordcouncil.ie

National Bike Week 2016

2016-06-13_0854National Bike Week runs from Saturday 11th to Sunday 19th June. Enjoy seven days on two wheels celebrating and promoting all that is great about cycling. There are a wide range of events taking place throughout Waterford.

Bike Week not only promotes the leisure and fun aspects of cycling as a family, with friends, to sightsee…it also highlights why it is important to choose cycling as a means to commute to work, to do the crèche or school run or to run errands. Cycling is environmentally friendly, as it cuts congestion and has zero emissions, and it is also much lower in cost than travelling by public transport or a car.

See Waterford Sports Partnership for more details …

Response to Munster Express SDZ North Quays questions

2016-06-08_08541: How many submissions and observations did the Council receive during the pre-draft consultation phase between January 29th and March 31st? (Will we, the public, get a look at these submissions?)

The Council received 16 submissions as part of the pre draft consultation phase. It is not intended that these submissions will be made public at this point however as part of the next phase, which is a statutory process, any submissions received will form part of a Chief Executives report and will be available to the public.

2: The artist’s impressions for the site, as publicly displayed at the launch of the SDZ…these are drawings and not the only consideration for the site, I presume that’s a correct assertion?

Correct, WCCC are working from a blank canvas in the preparation of the Planning scheme and the artist impressions simply highlight previous visions for the site.

3: Would the Council consider an academic presence on the site, i.e. WIT, which would, I suggest, represent a long-term, sustainable use for a section of the redeveloped site?

The SDZ designation allows, amongst others, for educational uses and such uses will be examined in the context of the planning scheme.

4: Will the Council be exploring the prospect of art installations on the site as has occurred on other redeveloped dockside developments in recent decades, such as in Nantes, France?

It is likely that the site will accommodate some features of an artistic/cultural nature.

5: In terms of flood defences for the site, would Kilkenny County Council be called upon to provide additional defences upriver of the site, given the flooding that has occurred in recent years at Plunkett Station and the historic flooding in that area, i.e. defending the North Quay alone will not completely defend the SDZ site from flooding?

Consultants are being appointed to consider the engineering and environmental issues which will include ‘Flood Risk Assessment’ being carried out to inform the planning scheme. The recommendations of same will be considered by WCCC and appropriate action taken to ensure adequate flood defences.

6: Is the Council cognisant of the existing vacant office space in Waterford city centre – 50 per cent at Railway Square and 30 per cent at Maritana Gate – when it comes to finalising what proportion of office space will be devoted within the floor space of the redeveloped project?

The portion of office space to be included in the SDZ has yet to be decided; however WCCC is aware of the issues in relation to office accommodation in Waterford. It is envisaged that the SDZ will allow for the creation of a new urban quarter that will attract large scale investment, creating  an “office culture” and generate demand for further office development in the City.

7: The non-statutory nature of this phase means, I presume, that the Council can adopt, particularly at this moment in time, a pretty flexible approach to how the project shall ultimately unfold? Or am I wrong in making such an assertion?

The preparation of a planning scheme and adoption of same is a statutory process.The draft scheme therefore will have to be robust enough and strategic in its aims as to satisfy scrutiny of An Bord Pleanala.  It is imperative that the scheme reflects the SDZ designation as to its importance as an economic driver of national/regional significance.

8: “Critically, the draft planning scheme shall have to be prepared by the City & County Council, meaning the prospect remains that a Government of a different composition, and with different policy objectives, may make final approval on the SDZ submission.” (The Munster Express, December 1st 2015). Has the Council, as of yet, engaged with the new Government in relation to the North Quay project?

While the Government designated the SDZ, the preparation of the North Quays planning scheme will be a reserved function of the members of WCCC and not a function of central government. The planning scheme can be appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

9: When will we see the draft planning scheme for the site?

It is anticipated that the draft planning scheme will be on public display in the first quarter of 2017.

10: Who is spearheading the planning scheme within the Council and how many staff are engaged in its preparation?

A Steering Group consisting of CE WCCC and CEO of Waterford Port with other senior management staff members has been established to oversee the project.  A multidisciplinary team has also been established within the Council to prepare the Planning Scheme, which includes Planners, Architects and Engineers. The Planning Scheme will be informed by the Engineering/Environmental Consultants Report (See No5 above).

The RHA Waterford Collection

c45
c45

Exhibition continues until September 10th 2016

Greyfriars Municipal Art Gallery – Admission Free

Greyfriars Municipal Art Gallery is pleased to present The RHA Waterford Selection, an exhibition comprising of 39 works from the Waterford Municipal Art Collection.  The pieces on display were carefully selected by Patrick Murphy, Director of the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, for exhibition in the RHA in 2015.

“Waterford City consistently collected contemporary art from the late 1930’s through to the early seventies. Funds to acquire art were made available by the City Council, which from time to time were combined with the Arts Council Joint Purchase Scheme. Donations to the collection were made on a regular basis by the Haverty Trust and from local collections. Waterford’s Municipal Collection is a strong representative collection of Irish art of the 20th Century. “ – Patrick Murphy, Director, Royal Hibernian Academy

The exhibition takes a chronological look at the collection’s RHA members, with works ranging from 1880 to 2008 in mediums of oil, gouache, watercolour, pastel, print and mixed media.

Artist include Paul Henry, William Conor, Martin Gale, Evie Hone, Dermod O’ Brien, Mainie Jellet, Harry Kernoff, Grace Henry, Jack B. Yeats and many more…

Address: Greyfriars Municipal Gallery, Greyfriars Street, Waterford.
Open: Tuesday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm
T: 076110 2983. Email: greyfriars@waterfordcouncil.ie

ADMISSION TO GREYFRIARS MUNICIPAL GALLERY IS ALWAYS FREE