Politicians, community groups go to town on border protest

WATERFORD city is today bracing itself for an influx of politicians and community group leaders from Kilkenny fighting to hold on to their home turf.

The group will hand thousands of petitions into City Hall in Waterford at 2pm today in protest over the proposed extension of the Waterford city boundary into Kilkenny.

Earlier plans to march across Rice Bridge on Monday afternoon were scrapped in favour of a more dignified way of showing opposition to plans to take over 6,000 acres of their county.

Next Monday is the deadline date for submissions on the contentious boundary extension proposal to be lodged with Waterford City Council.

A massive campaign against the boundary extension has been mounting on the far side of Waterford’s northern border since the city council published its boundary extension proposal two months ago.

The ultimate decision on the proposal will rest with the Minister for Environment & Local Government.

Margaret Haberlin, a prominent Fianna Fáil and community activist from Slieverue, says public representatives of all political persuasions in Kilkenny had united in this common cause to stop the boundary extension going ahead.

“At first I thought there wasn’t much opposition, but after going around canvassing residents’ opinions I have found people are very much against it and are willing to do whatever they have to, to get their way.”

Waterford City Council member Cllr Davy Walsh, Ferrybank’s only representative on the city council, insists there is a lot of public support for the boundary extension in his and neighbouring communities because residents of these areas had been badly served by Kilkenny County Council over the years.

“People see the justification for the boundary extension and see that it will be beneficial for them to live in the city council’s area where they can get better services,” he said.