Changes to active travel schemes by the Green Party have led to the public having zero input.
That's according to one local representative, who says changes implemented at a busy Waterford City junction had no input from the public.
An entrance to the Farronshoneen Roundabout was altered in recent months, with two lanes being decreased to one, leading to lengthy traffic delays.
Local Councillor Adam Wyse, says local representatives also have no say.
"It was brought about in 2023 by former Minister Eamon Ryan of the Green Party, who made changes that from now on the public and local elected councillors, who in my opinion are the people that know a lot about how this area works, wouldn't have any say in changes to infrastructure like this when it comes to active travel.
"This is an active travel scheme where it's trying to improve the likelihood of cyclists and pedestrians using the crossing. Pedestrian crossings are welcome in Waterford City and across the county, however, they have to take road users into account as well.
"It should be a shared space. This has been brought in by what's called a Section 38, where elected councillors and members of the public have no say in any changes to the traffic management of that area."
Congestion
The roundabout has been a hot topic of conversation in Waterford over the last two years, with significant delays reported at the junction for weeks on end in 2023 due to roadworks at the intersection.
Since its implementation, the new design has resulted in a series of accidents, including severe collisions and near-misses according to Cllr. Wyse.
Councillors raised concerns at numerous local authority meetings citing concerns regarding changes to the original plans at the roundabout, particularly the lane coming from the Farran Park side towards the Farronshoneen roundabout.
According to Councillors, the original plans for the entrance would remain at two lanes from the Farran Parkside, however, the current system has one.
Since the changes, significant traffic delays have been reported at rush hour times at the busy intersection.
Councillor Adam Wyse said the changes made are concerning.
"The changes made, while some were welcome, have led to a huge amount of traffic congestion. My concern isn't so much the congestion, it's the fact that people are trapped in it for forty-five minutes and it causes them to try and take risks because they want to get through the roundabout as quickly as possible.
"If you come up the Folly Hill and go towards St. Anne's Tennis Club and up past St. Otterans, you would go up that big hill there, usually in a minute or two at half five in the evening. I've done this test myself at school times and at half five, it's taken approximately forty-five minutes to get from St. Anne's Tennis Club to that roundabout.
"You have people coming in and out of estates, you have people trying to nudge in and push out, you have people trying to access the crossings on foot, you have cyclists trying to use it also.
"The scheme that was shown has now been changed and it was done so last minute.
"We were told that pretty much that can happen and there's nothing we can do about changing it. I and other councillors have raised this on multiple occasions, and we've been told it won't be changed no matter what we say.
I think we're in a democratic country, and effectively if you are silencing the local elected councillors, you are silencing the public."
Local Authority response
Cllr. Adam Wyse says he has raised the matter with the Active Travel Engineer, with a petition already at over 500 signatures due to be submitted.
"This issue has been raised at multiple council meetings, demanding a reassessment of the design. Residents were never properly consulted on these changes, and those who live near the roundabout now face daily safety risks. Despite numerous reports of accidents and public frustration, Active Travel Engineer Michael Murphy has refused to reconsider the design, stating that he will not change it regardless of concerns raised by councillors."
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