Work begins on Active Travel scheme in Waterford despite widespread local opposition
Waterford City and County Council has proceeded with its plans for the area
Work has begun on a new Active Travel scheme in County Waterford despite widespread local opposition.
Work on the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Active Travel Scheme has commenced outside Scoil an Bhaile Nua, in Newtown, Kilmacthomas.
The proposed scheme consists of traffic calming measures, a pedestrian crossing, footpath widening and parking realignment outside the school.
Back in June, all four councillors present voiced their opposition to the scheme at the monthly meeting of the Comeragh District.
Sinn Féin councillor Catherine Burke said that the message from local residents was that they don’t believe a footpath outside the school is the “right solution”.
“We all want safer roads but we need to listen to people,” Cllr Burke stated.
She concluded by saying that the council should look at other measures as the scheme “needs broader support”.
Fine Gael councillor Seanie Power said that the council had “failed to sell” the scheme to local residents.
Cllr Power outlined that the majority of people in the area feel things are “working well” as they are.
His party colleague, Cllr Liam Brazil, said that the scheme was something the council “can’t make stick”.
He also argued that the council didn’t sell the scheme to the local residents, who don’t want a footpath outside the school.
Cllr Brazil expressed frustration that the council didn’t receive more support from the school itself in relation to the scheme. “We can’t push this through”, he concluded.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil councillor John O’Leary highlighted other Active Travel schemes in the county that have faced similar opposition.
Cllr O’Leary said that the people of Newtown “see themselves as a rural entity” and not as a town or village.
He said that the footpath outside the school was the “major obstacle” for the scheme and that residents thought it would “cause mayhem”.
In response to the councillors, Director of Services Gabriel Hynes said that the way to reduce speed is to narrow roadways and that “the public don’t seem to be accepting this”.
He acknowledged that such schemes can be an inconvenience to motorists as it forces them to slow down.
In 2022, Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act was updated to allow local authorities to implement traffic calming measures without the approval of elected members.
As a result, the Active Travel scheme proposed for Newtown has proceeded, despite the opposition of the elected members.
A number of Active Travel schemes have been introduced in Waterford in similar circumstances.