Local residents are “prisoners in their own homes” during All Together Now festival

Residents living on the outskirts of the All Together Now festival in Waterford are trapped in their homes during the festival due to increased traffic numbers, a local councillor has said.

Cllr Declan Clune said this week that every resident living on the Clonegam road has contacted him in the lead up to the festival, which takes place from July 30 to August 2.

He said: “At Clonegam, the residents are essentially prisoners in their own house. They can’t get in or out from Friday, Saturday, Sunday and particularly Monday.” 

He asked staff in Waterford Council’s road department to consider placing stewards at nearby junctions informing festivalgoers that the road is for local access only.

Meanwhile, Cllr Clune also raised concerns over the condition of the road at Salaheen, which also borders the festival.

“There is extensive overgrowth there from branches. It is quite dangerous and I think we should do something there to get those hedges cut back before the concert.” 

Senior Executive Roads Engineer, Maria Goff, said that Salaheen is not an official festival route.

She clarified that the All Together Now traffic management plan is devised by the festival itself. It is then reviewed by both Waterford Council and An Garda Siochana.

Gardaí have identified locations where hedge cutting is required, Ms. Goff said.

(Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme)