WATCH: Frustration and gridlock as Haulage protest takes over Waterford City
The Quay as a convoy made its way through the cit.
Roads and businesses in Waterford saw huge disruption on Tuesday morning as a large vehicle protest took over the city centre.
Hauliers and transport operators set out from Waterford City this morning to protest the price of fuel.
A series of small convoys travelled through the city, beeping horns and holding up traffic.
Watch the vide below of some of the convoy during the protest
The Quays and The Mall were affected, along with Lombard Street, William Street and Parnell Street with the former two gridlocked for a time.
Parnell Street was particularly hit by trucks and buses competing for space.
No particular group has been named as the organiser, but a poster circulating on social media said the protest would start at 9am at the roundabout at the train station.
Traffic in the city was backed up until just before 11am.
The Irish Hauliers Association has distanced itself from the protest but said they do have “empathy” for the operators participating.
Similar protests were held in Wexford and Cork and Tipperary.
The Waterford News and Star spoke to some local businesses about how the protest had affected trading.
Thomas Keighery of RJ Keighery Antiques on William Street said the protest has caused huge disruption to his business.
They were due to do a house clearance in Dublin, but the truck and men are stuck on the motorway and have had to cancel.
He said he is now down the cost of the men and the truck.
The showroom also had an auction viewing scheduled, which he expects will be a very quiet event today.
“So, it is hitting us on multiple levels.
“You would support the message, I suppose, but the way they are going about it is probably not ideal because it is affecting other people who are having the same issues. These issues are worldwide,” said Mr Keighery.
One Waterford food outlet, which did not wish to be named, said they were thinking of closing early, but don’t want their staff to lose the hours.
They told the Waterford News and Star that all of their food is cooked fresh and that while they had been open since 8am, they had only served three customers.
We spoke to them at around 10:45am.
Companies that had ordered food have cancelled because staff can’t get to work.
“Waterford is already struggling, and what they are doing is affecting businesses.
“It is affecting no one in government or the council. The council are still working; they don’t really care.
“Everyone is saying, well, we have to do more for Waterford. You have just completely shut down Waterford,” they said.
While this business was not affected in terms of their supply delivery, they did say that many businesses will have been.
They also pointed out that the protesters are using large vehicles, which will need to be fueled, supporting the companies’ raising the cost.
“And it’s not like we can do anything. There is a war going on. The Government could lower taxes, but that would affect everything else. It’s a knock-on effect.
“I’m struggling as it is with everything going up and they are shutting down Waterford City,” they said.
Enda Walsh of Ardkeen Tool Hire said his business was not impacted by the protest and supported it “in theory”.
But he said he was “raging” about the price of diesel more than the protest itself.
The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has said it was aware of the protest but was not involved.
It said that it is committed to working with the Government on “practical and sustainable supports” for the sector.
And that it continues to support members in this way.
In a statement, the association said:
“We fully understand, empathise with, and share the frustration felt across the sector. Hauliers and transport operators continue to face significant challenges due to increased fuel prices and rising operating costs.
“However, the IRHA wishes to make it clear that, at this point in time, we are not involved in the organisation of this protest and will not be participating.
“Our focus remains on constructive engagement with the Department of Transport to deliver support for our members.
“We had a very engaging meeting with Minister O’Brien last Friday. We will be meeting him again shortly, along with officials from the Department.
“We are keeping the lines of communication open and working on delivering further support for our members to mitigate against surging fuel prices.
“We believe dialogue — not disruption — is the most effective way to deliver real solutions for our members and the wider industry at this point in time.”
