€1.3 million water activity centre in Waterford 'on hold'
View of the site in Ardmore. Photo: Waterford Council
The opening of the contentious Ardmore Water Activity Centre has been delayed due to stalled progress and adverse weather. The proposed centre drew protests last April over local concerns that the centre would obstruct access to the beach. The €1.3 million centre is being funded by Fáilte Ireland.
At the May meeting of Dungarvan-Lismore District, Councillors Kate O'Mahoney and Tom Cronin asked the Executive about the current state of the project.
Cllr O'Mahoney spoke in reference to casual trading licences in the area.
"We believe there was an SPC (Strategic Policy Committee) meeting last year, it was agreed that amendments to the casual trading licences in the area of the Water Activity Centre in Ardmore would be put on hold until the facility is completed. Is there a guarantee that when the facility is open and up and running, can this process be open again?"
Councillor Cronin noted: "Basically the activity centre is 'on hold' at the moment. How long will the whole place be in gridlock?"
Senior Executive Engineer for Rural Economic Development Conor O'Neill stated: "A number of factors are at play so I'm trying to go through it as best I can to explain. I have indicated in the past that we have had issues with progress there due to weather conditions and that's why a lot of the work has slowed down, due to the number of storms we had at the start of the year.
"The story now, at the moment, is that we hope to have the connections completed in the next week. It is still hoped to open in early June but I can't give you a cast-iron guarantee."
