Boundary extension ‘vital’ to boost city’s economy

A WATERFORD city councillor has accused Kilkenny of retarding the port city’s economic growth as the long-running battle to extend the county boundary into the Marble City continues.

Fine Gael Alderman Tom Cunningham has expressed frustration with the slow progress on the issue, which has met with stern opposition from Kilkenny.

“Kilkenny County Council’s resistance seriously retards our economic development,” he said.

“If it wasn’t for the opposition we’d already have a second river crossing and a proper road to Gowran instead of a Third World road,” he added.

Colleague Alderman Davy Daniels agreed further expansion of Waterford city would not be possible without the boundary extension.

“The city is expanding; it’s bursting at the seams,” Mr Daniels said. “To expand further we will have to get into Kilkenny.”

Waterford’s northern suburbs straddle the Kilkenny border, with Ferrybank serving as the dividing line. The boundary argument has been running for a number of decades - Waterford City Council argues that about 370 hectares of lands on the city’s northside needs to come into their remit to allow for further expansion and development.

However, Kilkenny County Council is adamant that a change in jurisdiction is not necessary for Waterford to continue growing at its current rate.

“Waterford city can expand without owning the land; we have an agreed development plan and I believe we are doing a good job of developing the environs of Waterford city,” Bobby Aylward of Kilkenny County Council argued.

He said people in the south Kilkenny area were opposed to the boundary change, despite the fact that many of them work in Waterford, shopped in Waterford and send their children to school in Waterford.

“It’s Kilkenny. You’re transversing a county boundary, you’re transgressing a constituency boundary and a provincial boundary from Munster into Leinster,” said Mr Aylward.

“People have identities, people have heritage and have reasons for staying in Kilkenny. You talk about extension, but where do you stop?” he said.

Waterford city manager Conn Murphy informed the city council this week that a draft proposal on the matter would be ready for presentation in March.

An application for a boundary extension must be approved by the Department of the Environment.