'Busted and broken' phone boxes are a 'scourge' to city
An Eircom telephone box, with no phone, which continues to present as an eyesore to Waterford tourists and locals on the quay front.
Another request has been made to Waterford City and County Council to assist with the removal of the broken telephone boxes located across the city.
Local Fianna Fáil Councillor, Eamon Quinlan, has described the telephone boxes as a “scourge”.
“I personally inspected two, located on the quay right by our hotels and areas of large tourist interest, busted and broken telephone boxes,” said Cllr Quinlan.
“Whole sections of the box are missing, what’s left suffers from green mould and damp. Vandals have removed the actual telephone itself, so all they are being used for now, is an area to dump rubbish,” he added.
Cllr Quinlan noted that “a considerable amount of taxpayers’ money” has been spent on the area to make it an enjoyable place for tourists and locals alike, however, Cllr Quinlan reckons “it’s about time we cracked the whip on other entities that are leaving the side down on their end.”
He went on to explain that the telephone boxes are not the property of the Council. “Just because we don’t own them doesn't mean we can turn a blind eye to them. They seriously detract from the area and create a disgusting impression of Waterford to newcomers, which is very unfair given how many people, companies, and the Council itself have upped their game in recent years so that Waterford puts its best foot forward,” Cllr Quinlan Concluded.
Cllr Quinlan suggests the Council reviews the planning on the telephone boxes and that there is a range of options to resolve the issue.
