Tramore councillor alleges NTA 'diktat'

A Tramore councillor has called on the National Transport Authority (NTA) to change their 'apathetic’ attitude.

Independent Councillor Blaise Hannigan said that the transport body are 'ignoring' the concerns of Tramore residents over their new proposals. 

He said: "They [NTA] are ignoring both the concerns of Tramore residents in terms of new bus schedules and routes and are refusing to review passenger data, which shows how some Tramore residents are being negatively impacted by new service changes."

The Tramore-based councillor spoke to an NTA executive officer to flag issues regarding the frequency of bus services to Riverstown residents and a possible bus terminus.

According to Cllr Hannigan, the NTA have: "No plans to address anything in new service routes and in the short term have no plans to erect bus infrastructure in Crobally heights."

Cllr Hannigan also highlighted that amendments to the 360A service now exclude any possible stops at UPMC, Waterford Industrial Estate and WIT Cork Road entrance. 

He said: "This is because of the failure of NTA to properly understand the needs of their customers and the negative impact the new service offering is having to both Tramore residents and day trippers using the bus to access Tramore beach."

Cllr Hannigan said that both he and Deputy Matt Shanahan were "prominent in highlighting concerns regarding proposed new bus route offerings in Tramore many months ago before change was introduced". 

He continued: "The NTA didn’t listen then and they are not listening now, the whole idea of adding capacity supposedly was to cater to the needs of all the residents of Tramore."

"Instead we have a government body now leading by diktat who have pushed their agenda through without listening fully to their existing passenger and residents concerns or those of elected representatives on the ground."

"It seems to me that if you live in an affected area your voice should be given attention for raising the issues I have raised. 

"It is obvious to me that NTA route planners are not interested in anything other than their view of the world and how we should all live and conduct our business to live within it."

A spokesperson for the NTA told the Waterford News and Star:

"As part of that process we held face-to-face public information events, an online public information webinar, and a briefing with Q&A for public reps that Cllr Hannigan attended. 

"Out of that, we’ll be evaluating feedback and submissions we have received from members of the public, and factor them into the final plans."