Full excavation of Viking site ‘essential’

A HERITAGE group in Waterford has vowed to keep pressure on the Government for a full excavation of the Viking site at Woodstown, believed to be one of the oldest Viking settlements in Western Europe.

The Save Viking Waterford Action Group (SVWAG) has published a number of New Year’s resolutions pledging their commitment to the preservation of the site as an educational and tourism resource for the South East.

These include plans to continue holding public lectures fronted by leading scholars to inform local people about the site and an extension of the group’s outreach programme to schools and organisations.

The campaigners have also committed themselves to producing detailed plans outlining the prospects for the removal of artefacts to a purpose-built heritage centre in Co Waterford.

“We resolve to continue our efforts to involve the public in the debate on the future of this magnificent site and not let up in our quest to see our heritage and culture preserved,” said Dr Cathy Swift, chairwoman of SVWAG.

The group has accused local minister Martin Cullen and members of Waterford City Council and Chamber of Commerce of deliberately misleading the public in relation to the site through a “concerted campaign” of misinformation.

“We resolve to continue to counter the misconceptions and misinformation surrounding Woodstown,” Dr Swift said.

“It has been claimed repeatedly that Woodstown will delay the Waterford bypass and the second river crossing - there is ample time to excavate Woodstown without disturbing any of the proposed roads which are designed to bypass the city,” she added.

Work on the archaeological site has been suspended while Environment Minister Dick Roche considers a number of reports on the excavation and the bypass.

A spokesperson for the Department of the Environment confirmed yesterday that no decision has yet been taken regarding the site, adding the reports were “still under consideration” by Mr Roche.

Fears have been expressed by some in the city that a full excavation of the site would delay the construction of the city’s second bridge and bypass by up to two years.