Leaders have high hopes for gateway city

THE announcement that Waterford city was to become a gateway city came as no surprise yesterday.

But political and business leaders were delighted nonetheless and now have great hopes for a city, which has not benefited as much as other cities from the Celtic Tiger economy.

“We are delighted the Minister confirmed Waterford as a gateway city. Martin Cullen sees Waterford as the engine for growth and development for the south east,” said Waterford city manager Eddie Breen.

He said the decision to make Kilkenny and Wexford development hubs would enable Waterford to fulfil its role as a gateway city allowing all three centres to compliment each other.

Mr Breen said the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) recognised the necessity of key developments in Waterford, including on the north quays of the city.

“Unused docklands will be developed giving a more balanced growth on both sides of the River Suir.”

He said the NSS also underlined the need for a Waterford city bypass as well as links to Dublin and Cork.

“The strategy envisages links between the gateway cities of Waterford, Cork, Galway and Limerick as a counterbalance to Dublin.”

He said the strategy would result in more investment in the area as well as the development of residential sites for people to live. Welcoming the decision, Frank O’Donoghue, chief executive of the Waterford Chamber of Commerce, said the business community now wanted government action on key infrastructure problems. “The key question is what does this mean. It must mean that our main problem - that of access, or lack of access - is dealt with.”

He said that Waterford lost out on the booming economy because of its poor links with the capital. “Waterford lost out in terms of rail, roads and airport. Cork, Limerick and Galway all had better access to Dublin.”

He said the number one need was the construction of the Waterford to Dublin motorway. He also called on CIE to increase the number of services to Dublin from four to five and more importantly to increase the speed of the journey.