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Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Waterford train services to be disrupted by major flood prevention works
Works from late August to early 2026 will affect some off-peak morning rail services, Mondays to Thursdays. The flood prevention works will be undertaken by contractors for Waterford City and County Council (WCCC) and will address the recurring flooding issue which has occurred over many years at this location and ensure the railway service is climate resilient into the future. As well as ensuring rail services are no longer impacted by flooding, both to the existing station and the new Plunkett Station from 2027, the works will allow a new electrical signalling system to replace the mechanical system which has been in place, and reinstate track capacity and routes to and from Waterford. The company is advising customers that the flood defence works will necessitate disruption to some off-peak rail services on Monday to Thursday mornings over a total of six months, from late August onwards, excluding the Christmas season. Waterford North Quays public transport elements are funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority (NTA). What do the flood defence works involve? The flood defence system will comprise a combination of sheet piled walls, impermeable trenches and an extensive drainage network with two associated pumping stations. This infrastructure is to be installed from Sally Park in the west to east of the new Plunkett Station and Transport Hub, over a 1.1km length. The specific works on the Western Flood Defence Wall which will require service impacts are over an 800 metre section, from the western end of the main Plunkett Station platform to east of the Waterford West signal cabin. Due to the depth to rock, the sheet piles are up to 25m in height and 0.6m wide and will be installed generally along the low watermark line. The wall line is located 5m to 7m from the passenger track. The flood defence wall will be installed from the River Suir, by means of two large barges and a piling rig. Service impacts from works Iarnród Éireann has worked with WCCC and BAM, the main contractor, throughout the project to minimise disruption to rail services and to identify the optimum approach to these works. 'On detailed review of the works, due to the potential to foul the line, Iarnród Éireann has identified that line closure is required and unavoidable,' said a spokesperson. 'This will be during the lifting and placing of piles due to their length, the working environment and the proximity to the railway. 'The agreed work programme seeks to balance the timescale for delivery of the flood defence system with avoiding disruption to the busiest rail services on the route.' The work dates will occur from August 25 to November 27 this year, and from January 5 to March 26, 2026. Works will take place from 8am to 2.30pm on Mondays to Thursdays during the those dates. As a result, the following service alterations will apply: the 7.20am and 10.15am Dublin Heuston to Waterford will terminate at Kilkenny, with bus transfers from Kilkenny to Thomastown and Waterford The 11am and 1.05pm Waterford to Dublin Heuston will have bus transfers from Waterford and Thomastown to Kilkenny, and train from Kilkenny to Heuston. The 9.45am Limerick Junction to Waterford will terminate at Carrick-on-Suir with bus transfer from Carrick-on-Suir to Waterford. This ensures that only two of eight services each way daily between Waterford and Dublin are affected Mondays to Thursdays, and that weekends are unaffected. It will also ensure that full services operate throughout December and the New Year period, crucial for city centre traders and tourism. Follow Independent Waterford on Facebook Iarnród Éireann chief executive Jim Meade said: 'The Waterford North Quays project is a transformative one for Waterford and for public transport serving the city. 'As well as delivering a new integrated transport hub incorporating a relocated Plunkett Station, it will resolve the recurring flooding issues which have disrupted rail services to and from Waterford for many years. 'This is a trend which has worsened with the impact of climate change, so it is far-sighted to incorporate these works in the wider programme. 'We welcome Waterford City and County Council's commitment to the protection of key public transport infrastructure, and thank them and their contractors for the proactive engagement which has been core to the Waterford North Quays programme. 'While any disruption is regretted, we believe the programme strikes the right balance between the needs of rail customers and the efficient delivery of these crucial flood defence works.'
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Plans to build new Waterford tourist accommodation facility revealed
Waterford City and County Council has given notice, in accordance with Part 8 planning regulations, to carry out development works at Quay Road, Villierstown, Cappoquin, (P51 A0F3). The development will consist of three two-bedroom cabins, three motorhome overnight parking spaces, and a service building consisting of sanitary facilities, a kitchen and a multipurpose community space. There will be four parking spaces and the proposal involves the demolition of two existing structures on site, along with hard and soft landscaping, including a new site entrance and access road. Provision is made for a plant room space associated with mechanical and electrical installation, photovoltaic panels to service a building roof, a covered refuse store, and connection to existing site services. There will be sustainable urban drainage and all ancillary site works. Plans of the proposed development will be available for inspection or purchase, at a fee not exceeding the cost of making a copy, at customer care offices, Civic Offices, Davitt's Quay, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, and at the customer care desk, Baileys New Street, Waterford city between the hours of 9.30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, up until Tuesday, August 5. Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed development, can be made in writing to the Director of Economic Development, Waterford City and County Council, The Mall, Waterford. These made be made by email to projectsteam@ or online, at under 'make a submission'. All correspondence to be received on or before 4pm on August 19, and should be clearly marked 'Villierstown Tourist Accommodation Facility'. In March 2023, Waterford City and County Council (WCCC) were contacted by members of the Villierstown Education and Cultural Project CG (VECP) team who operate a very successful boat house and club at Villierstown Quay with over 400 members, according to a council report. In addition to the boat house activities, they also provide a base for the Blackwater Eco Tours, with five employees, as well as other community partner such as Active Connections and Carriglea Cairde Services. They outlined that they have 'outgrown' their current site and that it is also not possible to expand due to its proximity to the Blackwater Special Area of Conservation. The VCEP identified a 0.6 acre (0.25 Ha) site adjacent to theirs and queried if WCCC could consider its acquisition as part of the Department of Rural and Community Development's building acquisition measures (BAM) process for 2023. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Their suggested plans for the site would include a combination of the following: toilet and changing facilities, expansion of the tourism offering to include glamping pods, multi-purpose community spaces and facilities, and parking facilities for campervans and motorhomes. An assessment of the suitability of acquiring the site using the BAM process was carried out by the council, and it was deemed suitable. A proposal was then forwarded to WCCC management team for consideration, and it was subsequently agreed to make the funding application with VCEP as 'project partners' to formally acquire the site adjacent to the quay. The application was submitted in May 2023 and was successful, and in October 2023, the site was formally transferred to WCCC. Following the site acquisition, WCCC's rural economic development team worked in conjunction with the VECP, who have put together a proposed plan for the site which is the subject of the Part 8 procedure. A pre-public consultation meeting took place on June 12 in the boathouse in Villierstown. It was advertised in the local newspaper, WCCC, social media, Blackwater Eco Tours social media and with posters around town. The meeting 'was well attended and support for the project was very positive,' according to the council report. 'Suggestions were made with regard to providing electricity to the motorhome and campervan overnight parking places.' 'Construction of the proposed project will have no negative impact on any existing facilities and only a very minor impact on the surrounding area,' added Paul J Flynn and Lindsay Kampe, senior executive engineer, and executive architect, rural economic development, WCCC. The motorhome and campervan overnight parking spaces require a separation distance of 6m between each space for fire protection purposes. 'Each of the three spaces will have access to electricity if required. Potable water will be available outside the service building.'
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Plans to build new tourist accommodation facility in Waterford revealed
Waterford City and County Council has given notice, in accordance with Part 8 planning regulations, to carry out development works at Quay Road, Villierstown, Cappoquin, (P51 A0F3). The development will consist of three two-bedroom cabins, three motorhome overnight parking spaces, and a service building consisting of sanitary facilities, a kitchen and a multipurpose community space. There will be four parking spaces and the proposal involves the demolition of two existing structures on site, along with hard and soft landscaping, including a new site entrance and access road. Provision is made for a plant room space associated with mechanical and electrical installation, photovoltaic panels to service a building roof, a covered refuse store, and connection to existing site services. There will be sustainable urban drainage and all ancillary site works. Plans of the proposed development will be available for inspection or purchase, at a fee not exceeding the cost of making a copy, at customer care offices, Civic Offices, Davitt's Quay, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, and at the customer care desk, Baileys New Street, Waterford city between the hours of 9.30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, up until Tuesday, August 5. Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed development, can be made in writing to the Director of Economic Development, Waterford City and County Council, The Mall, Waterford. These made be made by email to projectsteam@ or online, at under 'make a submission'. All correspondence to be received on or before 4pm on August 19, and should be clearly marked 'Villierstown Tourist Accommodation Facility'. In March 2023, Waterford City and County Council (WCCC) were contacted by members of the Villierstown Education and Cultural Project CG (VECP) team who operate a very successful boat house and club at Villierstown Quay with over 400 members, according to a council report. In addition to the boat house activities, they also provide a base for the Blackwater Eco Tours, with five employees, as well as other community partner such as Active Connections and Carriglea Cairde Services. They outlined that they have 'outgrown' their current site and that it is also not possible to expand due to its proximity to the Blackwater Special Area of Conservation. The VCEP identified a 0.6 acre (0.25 Ha) site adjacent to theirs and queried if WCCC could consider its acquisition as part of the Department of Rural and Community Development's building acquisition measures (BAM) process for 2023. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Their suggested plans for the site would include a combination of the following: toilet and changing facilities, expansion of the tourism offering to include glamping pods, multi-purpose community spaces and facilities, and parking facilities for campervans and motorhomes. An assessment of the suitability of acquiring the site using the BAM process was carried out by the council, and it was deemed suitable. A proposal was then forwarded to WCCC management team for consideration, and it was subsequently agreed to make the funding application with VCEP as 'project partners' to formally acquire the site adjacent to the quay. The application was submitted in May 2023 and was successful, and in October 2023, the site was formally transferred to WCCC. Following the site acquisition, WCCC's rural economic development team worked in conjunction with the VECP, who have put together a proposed plan for the site which is the subject of the Part 8 procedure. A pre-public consultation meeting took place on June 12 in the boathouse in Villierstown. It was advertised in the local newspaper, WCCC, social media, Blackwater Eco Tours social media and with posters around town. The meeting 'was well attended and support for the project was very positive,' according to the council report. 'Suggestions were made with regard to providing electricity to the motorhome and campervan overnight parking places.' 'Construction of the proposed project will have no negative impact on any existing facilities and only a very minor impact on the surrounding area,' added Paul J Flynn and Lindsay Kampe, senior executive engineer, and executive architect, rural economic development, WCCC. The motorhome and campervan overnight parking spaces require a separation distance of 6m between each space for fire protection purposes. 'Each of the three spaces will have access to electricity if required. Potable water will be available outside the service building.'
Irish Independent
23-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Appeal lodged against plans for 155 homes and apartments in Waterford
S&K Carey Ltd submitted plans to Waterford City and County Council (WCCC on February 20 this year seeking planning permission to construct a large-scale residential development (LRD) consisting of 155 homes at Duckspool, Dungarvan, County Waterford. The development consists of detached, semi-detached, and terraced houses, along with 42 apartments in four three-storey duplex apartment blocks. It was given the green-light by Waterford planners on Wednesday, April 16, with Sinn Féin TD for Waterford Conor McGuinness describing the decision as 'a very positive step for Dungarvan at a time when the need for housing is acute'. Local resident John McGrath raised concerns about the development to WCCC, in relation to the master plan, traffic congestion, and environment. Mr McGrath wrote that the subject site provides access to a larger land bank which should be subject to a master plan for the area. A master plan should be developed 'in the first instance.' 'I would suggest therefore that this development is premature in that a master plan should now be drawn up for the entire area. A zoning map of the area with some notes, a creche and a spine road included as part of this planning submission does not constitute a master plan. The absence of a master plan is simply not acceptable as certain infrastructural, social and community obligations are being neglected or worse ignored.' Under traffic congestion, Mr McGrath maintained that a previous planning grant for a much smaller development on the subject site was conditioned by the council 'such that the developer was to contribute towards a new roundabout at the junction of the L-3168 and the N25. Five years on, a much larger development is now proposed for the site with no consideration been given for a roundabout at the junction of the N25 and the L-3168'. Traffic models prepared as part of the planning submission suggest that the project should be developed in advance of upgrading work to the local road network. 'As a local resident I would respectfully suggest that one must question the suitability and validity of the Traffic Impact Assessment and its findings,' he wrote. Additionally, in 2022, An Bord Pleanála granted permission for 218 housing units on the opposite side of the same road as the subject development. 'This grant was issued despite huge opposition from local stakeholder groups whose concerns were vast and varied,' wrote Mr McGrath. 'Some concerns were raised concerning infrastructure. "While the most robust opposition came from those with regards to environmental concerns, I wish to ask the local authority to consider the concerns raised by local stakeholders and in particular the environmental concerns which were presented with much gusto and hype before making any decision regarding permission on the subject site. 'In conclusion, I would ask WCCC to refuse planning permission for this development in its present application format,' added Mr McGrath. The case is due to be decided by An Bord Pleanála on or before September 1 next.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Local trade school closed after severe storms cause power outage
A local trade school is closed today due to a power outage by Sunday's storms. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Warren County Career Center (WCCC) announced on social media that they are closed on Monday. They said this is due to a power outage caused by last night's storms. TRENDING STORIES: PHOTOS: Damage reported after severe storms Sunday Damage reported as severe storms move through region Child, adult injured after tree falls on house during Ohio storms 'Duke Energy is estimating that power will not be restored to our Main Campus until this afternoon,' WCCC said on its Facebook page. 'Daytime adult education classes are canceled.' They said today is a remote learning day for students, 'who will complete asynchronous lessons via Canvas.' WCC said that classes are expected to resume on Tuesday. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
