Waterford metropolitan area councillors are concerned about the impact on businesses in Ferrybank, if parking plans for apartments at the former Flynn's pub go ahead in their current form.
Designs for 14 social housing units at Fountain Street, Ferrybank were presented by Waterford Council at this week's meeting of city representatives.
It's proposed that the mix of one bed and two bed units in a 1-to-3 storey development, known as The Lodges, will be built on the site of the former Flynns Bar on Fountain Street, and associated parking area to the rear.
The site has been unoccupied for many years and is currently derelict, attracting a high-level of anti-social behaviour in its current state. According to the Council's report, it is proposed to demolish elements of the existing structure on health and safety grounds, and to make the remaining structure secure in the short term.
While public representatives welcomed the provision of much needed social housing in the area there was general concern about parking.
Fianna Fail Cllr Eamon Quinlan said "many of the businesses on Fountain Street, because they bascially go out onto a dual carriageway, use that car park as customer car park as well. So I feel like in the designs we've just seen, if I'm reading them right, that we've taken too much of the car park and eliminated it as a serviceable car park for that area."
Fine Gael Cllr Frank Quinlan said "in particular Walsh's shop amongst other businesses in the area. I know because you can't park on the main road there people use that car park to park for that shop. If the 14 spaces are for the people living in the houses and they can't use that car park it would jeopardise the business".
The 14 dwellings are proposed in a 1-to-3 storey development as follows: 6 no. 2-bed 2-storey duplex dwellings; 6 no. 1-bed dwellings and 2 no. 1-bed single-storey units (potential for wheelchair occupancy).
The scheme now being proposed has been approved by WCCC Housing Section and has received Stage 1 and 2 approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. Following the planning, design and tender processes it is hoped that construction would begin towards the end of 2022.
