Bridge petition signed by 600 is presented to county council
Hundreds of people have signed a petition voicing their concerns about the closure of a bridge connecting County Kilkenny with County Wexford.
Ferrymountgarret Bridge, which crosses the River Barrow from The Rower to New Ross, was closed to all vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic from June 24, and will not reopen until August 28, for repair works.
However, residents in the area say the closure is having a significant impact on the local community and are unhappy with the level of communication and consultation they have with Kilkenny County Council.
On Monday, local man David Maher and Cllr John Dwyer from the New Ross Municipal District delivered the petition to the Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Joe Malone, in advance of the July meeting of Kilkenny County Council.
Engagement
In advance of the meeting, Mr Maher said: “As Kilkenny County Council has declined to meet with us directly to receive the petition, I want to acknowledge Councillor Malone’s willingness to engage with the community. Of all the elected representatives I contacted on the Kilkenny side, he was the only one who came to the bridge, met with me, listened to residents’ concerns, and took the time to understand the issues affecting local people. I greatly appreciate his commitment to local democracy and community engagement.”
He said it was “deeply disappointing” the council had not acknowledged the petition “or the hundreds of people who signed it.”
“A public petition is one of the most fundamental expressions of community activism and local democracy. When nearly 600 people come together to ask their local authority to listen, their voices deserve to be acknowledged and respected.
“Kilkenny County Council has advised that it will not meet with us because it believes these matters have already been discussed. Respectfully, we disagree.”
Cllr Dwyer understands the difficulties that residents, commuters, businesses, carers, elderly people, and people with disabilities have experienced during the closure of Ferrymountgarrett Bridge, Mr Maher said.
He continued: “This issue is about more than the bridge itself. We support the essential repair works. It is about how local authorities communicate with the communities they serve. Many residents have been left feeling unheard throughout this process. We believe there is an urgent need to improve how Kilkenny County Council engages with local residents and responds to community concerns.”
Works
Increased traffic volumes using the bridge over the past 10 to 15 years have resulted in the accelerated deterioration of the predominantly reinforced concrete structure.
Kilkenny County Council said a fully enclosed containment system is required to prevent contamination of the river during the works. The completion of works such as deck waterproofing, concrete reinforcement, drainage and surfacing will be achieved more quickly under a full closure, avoiding prolonged disruption.