Traders angry over city redevelopment

A REDEVELOPMENT project in the heart of Waterford city centre is running weeks behind, leaving traders in the midst of a building site just days before the Tall Ships Race.

Traders at Arundel Square have endured weeks of noise, dirt and dust, and heavy rain in the early hours of yesterday morning left them with further problems as water rose on footpaths outside their doors.

Gullies in the new paved footpaths have caused floods outside their doors and footpaths which were flat prior to the works are now angled and uneven, according to the traders. They met with the city council’s director of planning and environment, Michael Walsh, on Tuesday evening.

“We want to know the long-term plans for the entire area and when the work will be finished,” said Aisling Kelly, co-owner of the Tuck Away Café. She said they had been promised the area would be cleaned up and would be making no further comment until another meeting takes place with city officials.

Work has been ongoing in Arundel Square for the past eight weeks as part of the overall redevelopment of the city centre streetscape. It had been anticipated that the entire project would be completed in advance of the Tall Ships event, which the city will host next week.

Work will stop during the Tall Ships Race. Mr Walsh said that Arundel Square and Broad Street were being tidied up, but when the Tall Ships had set sail from the city, work would re-commence and would be ongoing for five to six weeks.