Waterford Council commended for tackling dereliction and promoting tourism
The restoration of 29, The Glen
Waterford City and County Council has been shortlisted for three All-Ireland Community & Council Awards.
Now in its 19th year, the awards offer a platform to showcase the achievements and positive impact of partnership within local areas as well as highlighting the unsung heroes in our communities.
In the Best Town / Village Regeneration category, Waterford City and County Council’s efforts in tackling dereliction and vacancy have been shortlisted. This award recognises interventions or initiatives which seek to regenerate or reactivate existing town or villages, and the needs of the people who live in them.
Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Jason Murphy said: “Waterford’s efforts in tackling vacancy and dereliction are regularly cited as best practice, with the Council accounting for a substantial number of dwellings brought back into use through the Repair and Lease scheme.”
Waterford Council has also been shortlisted in the Best Tourism Initiative category for the City of Lights project.
The local authority launched the City of Lights project, funded by Fáilte Ireland, to illuminate 19 key locations across the city.
This initiative created a light trail which connects the four main areas of the city: the Viking Triangle, the Apple Market and City walls beyond, the retail spine, and the Cultural Quarter.
St. Joseph’s, Manor Hill has been shortlisted in the Best Housing Regeneration and Urban Planning category. This category acknowledges excellence within social housing projects which have been developed in the last three years enabling stability and sustainability within communities.
Located on a landmark site on Manor Hill, St. Joseph’s House contains 71 dwellings. The former convent consists of 50 units located within the main building, while 21 units are located in the various out-building clusters on the site. The former chapel on the site has also been repurposed as a community space for multiple uses by tenants.
“Being shortlisted in three categories of the All Ireland Community & Council awards is testament to the vision and dedication of the Council. There is a great team working behind the scenes to consistently innovate, build, create, improve and maintain" Mayor Murphy said.
