Active travel works causing 'mayhem' for tourists visiting Tramore town, claims councillor 

Tramore active travel works are causing “mayhem and disruption” across Tramore town, according to a local councillor.

Tramore active travel works are causing “mayhem and disruption” across Tramore town, according to a local councillor.

At the most recent sitting of the Metropolitan District, Sinn Féin councillor Jim Griffin urged Waterford County Council to designate someone to clean up the active travel signs, bollards and barriers on Friday afternoons, to ensure the area is properly managed for the weekends.

Making note of the effect this is having on tourists visiting the seaside town, Mr Griffin said: “Over the last number of weeks we’ve seen barriers and bollards and stuff really making a hames of the town for tourists that are not aware of the active travel in the town.”

To combat the “absolute mayhem” this is causing, Mr Griffin asked the council to send an employee to Tramore to tidy the area at least once a week in preparation for busy summer weekends, saying: “I wouldn’t give the role to the contractor; I don’t think they’re capable of doing it.

“Someone needs to go out there every Friday and drive around at three o’clock and make sure the proper access is in the proper place.”

“At the moment, it’s not very helpful at all”, he added. “They don’t finish one area. They won’t finish at a particular roundabout; they start there and a couple of days later they’ll be gone somewhere else and it’ll be left a mess.”

Michael Quinn, director of services for Waterford City and County Council, told Mr Griffin that any sections left behind or that appear to be unfinished were left that way on purpose at the request of the council, to allow for a better and easier flow to traffic in the area while schools are closed for the summer.

“We’re trying to get the main line works finished before the schools reopen at the end of August. That’s why it looks like they’re leaving sections, that’s deliberate, they’re trying to concentrate on the main line,” he said.

Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme.