Fianna Fail Councillor Eamon Quinlan has raised the serious concerns of the Ferrybank Business Community about the ‘double whammy’ of street closures heading for the Fountain Street area.
Businesses were notified that BAM, who are the contractor for the North Quays development, would as part of their works be closing the street immediately outside the business premises along with the removal of the public footpath from Spar to the Briar Rose.
Access to local businesses will be by temporary boardwalks.
Cllr Quinlan said: “Along with this, businesses have been advised that as part of the former Flynn’s Pub development, it is intended to close the Fountain Street entrance into Marymount. There's been months of work on both developments but it appears these two closures are planned for the same time. The businesses are rightly terrified that the loss of on street parking, the loss of footpaths and the closure of access from the surrounding area will create a ‘no mans land’ in which customers would have to park far away and walk the distance. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know businesses in such circumstances would face a significant drop off in income."
"Our housing and economic departments need to talk to one another and at the very least stagger the closures so it isn’t all at the same time", he continued. "That way, at least a degree of normality for the area can be maintained. We have a responsibility to the existing businesses in Ferrybank to safeguard their wellbeing during the North Quays Development. Fountain Street is still the main service centre for much of the area and access to it needs to be maintained, at all times.”
In response to Cllr. Quinlan, Director of Services for Housing with Waterford City and County Council, Mr. Ivan Grimes confirmed that the Council would have its housing department contact both their contractor on site as well as liaise with BAM and look to avoid any such mass disruptions, perhaps by staggering elements so that the impact was lessened on the area.
“I have communicated with the businesses about the Council’s undertaking and will be actively monitoring the situation. The next phase of works are due to commence at the end of this month. We have long standing businesses here that provide a livelihood to many. Recent investment in the street is both welcome and a further incentive to protect. The North Quays is not being built in isolation. It is our hope that it will provide a economic spin off to the region yes, but as a local representative, that has to be first and foremost, felt in the immediate area by small businesses and residents.”, said Cllr Quinlan.
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