Young people on motorised vehicles on the outskirts of the city are in serious danger of hurting themselves if someone doesn't step in, according to local councillor Frank Quinlan.
He says youngsters on quad bikes and scramblers have taken over land between St John's Park and the Grange.
Frank said the fields had been left 'wide open' with no railings and there were joyriders, people on quadbikes and motocross bikes regularly in them.
He told the metropolitan meeting of city councillors that the issue is so prevalent that there are now ramps in the fields.
The Fine Gael councillor says some of those involved are as young as six:
"It's a free for all and it's very very dangerous, there are children seemingly as young as six and seven years of age on quadbikes in these fields and they're bringing them in on trailers and trucks and on jeeps and it's a very very serious situation".
Local councillor Adam Wyse says when gardaí attended they were informed by those using the land they had permission to be there, however, Cllr Wyse said when he spoke to the landowner this was not the case.
Council director Fergus Galvin said the land was not under the ownership of the council and so they had no responsibility for them.
"It would really be a matter for the private owners of those fields to secure them to fence them off properly to ensure there's gates and whatnot to prevent trespassing"
Waterford FG councillor Frank Quinlan spoke to Damien Tiernan on Deise Today this morning regarding the situation.
You can listen back to his interview by clicking below...
