‘Decisive’ Waterville car park to progress

PLANS for the development of a car park in Waterville, which had received criticism in the local community, are to be progressed by Kerry County Council.

Funding of €200,000 for a new car park in Waterville has been provided under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and last week Kerry County Council management unveiled the plan for the car park.

This includes works in the current car park, close to the IRD office, including using part of the disused tennis court for coach parking. The Councilhas acquired the necessary land for the improvement works, they said.

The works will also see the current car park, close to the sea-front, extended to including 10 spaces in a green-field council owned site, just off the existing carpark. This section is what the local community are opposed to as they consider it a valuable green area that should not be developed.

Senior Engineer Padraic Teahan said only 10 parking spaces will be developed in the green area, which he said will have a ‘minimal’ effect.

In total the new car park will include 43 spaces, six coach spaces, and two disabled spaces.

There are also proposed junction works. The plan will now go out to public consultation to allow the local community have their say and Mr Teahan gave assurances that he would ‘brief’ groups who had previously made contact with the Council in regard to the project. One such group is the Waterville Save our Seafront (SOS) group, who have led the way in opposing the development of the green area.

Mr Teahan said the proposal presented to councillors is the ‘solution’ for extending the car park in Waterville and that while there will be consultation “there is no other solution than this one”.

Cllr Michael Cahill said the car park works are a ‘decisive’ issue in the community and he hoped the local community would accept the council proposals. This was also re-iterated by Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Patrick Connor Scarteen, who said that while it was decisive it was important that the funding provided be utilised.

Concerns were raised by Cllr Norma Moriarty about the number of coach parking spaces in the plan but she added the entire plan will have a ‘positive impact’ on the village and provide not only a car park but a nice amenity space in the village.