'We were left with no option' - Waterford Council defends decision to take Kilkenny to court
Ferrybank Shopping Centre
Councillors expressed their disapproval of the way the management of Waterford City and County Council dealt with the Ferrybank Shopping Centre.
It was announced in the just last week that Waterford Council are taking legal action against Kilkenny County Council.
At the Plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council on Thursday last, several councillors expressed disappointment at this decision.
Cllr Eamonn Quinlan said: “The people of Ferrybank are furious over the fact that we’ve initiated a legal case against Kilkenny County Council.”
He asked if it would be possible to seek mediation talks rather than take the drastic step of litigation.
“The people of Ferrybank, the Waterford and Kilkenny side, are furious that there will be further delays to a shopping centre that’s been closed for 20 years already."
Cllr Donal Barry asked if the Council Executive “can genuinely justify preventing this long-awaited development?"
“Why fight progress? Why waste public money in court preventing developments and job creation? If the Council Executive truly believe Ferrybank is a threat, then surely they should focus on strengthening the city centre.”
Cllr. Joe Kelly also expressed frustration at the situation. He said there is “confusion” with the public who think the councillors support the court case against Kilkenny County Council.
He said: “I can’t speak for everyone but I welcome the opening of Ferrybank Shopping Centre. I am certainly distancing myself from the management decision.”
Aisling O’Sullivan, senior planner for the council, responded that a judicial review “reviews the process of how a decision came to be, it doesn’t say whether the decision was wrong or right. It is about the process."
Ms O’Sullivan said there was no retail impact assessment provided with the planning application for the shopping centre.
“We have the same standards for our own retail developments in Waterford. We would always assess the impact of any retail development on the city centre.
“We’re not saying there should be no shopping in Ferrybank. But if there is to be shopping in Ferrybank, it has to be in the context of what impact it may or may not have on Waterford city.”
Waterford City and County Council Executive Seán McKeown added, “We were left with no option. In terms of taking a judicial review against a neighbouring council, I don’t know if it's been done anywhere else nationally.
“It isn’t something we do willy-nilly.”
“I believe we’ve done the right thing for Waterford in this case.”
