At the most recent meeting of Waterford Metropolitan District Council, the discussion turned from the Grand Hotel in Tramore, which had been labelled an eye-sore, to Waterford City’s Ard Rí hotel, which was labelled “an absolute disgrace” by a city councillor.
The vacant, former Ard Rí Hotel was once part of the Jury’s Hotel group before being sold. It has been vacant since 2005.
News reports are replete with historic development proposals and legal battles surrounding the building, although the clearly derelict site which looms over Waterford City is proof in itself that nothing significant has been achieved.
Instead of the major redevelopments that looked set to take off through the years, the only activity the Ard Rí has seen in over 20 idle years are fires, graffiti and anti-social behaviour as the courts and the council have tried to work through the issues surrounding the major Suir-side property.
Speaking on the matter at the January meeting for the Metropolitan District, Fianna Fáil’s Jason Murphy, acknowledged recent reports that the Grand Hotel in Tramore was a blot on the town, but said the City’s Ard Rí was an even more obvious problem.
“I think we’ve a bigger ‘carbuncle’ and that is the Ard Rí hotel, it’s visible from all over the City, it’s now been derelict since 2005, now over 20 years,” said Cllr. Murphy.
“This is one of the key sites in Waterford City and indeed the South-East. I think it brings shame on the owners of that building, and it brings a bit of shame too on this Council to be quite honest, that it is still derelict after all those years.
“I would like to know what we are actually doing as a council to engage with the owners and see that the site is developed,” continued Cllr. Murphy, as he asked for information regarding what penalties the owner of the site had occurred since its dereliction.
“What kind of levies or penalties have we enforced or are we putting on levies at all in relation to that site?” he asked.
“I think it’s an absolute disgrace that it can be seen all over the Waterford skyline, it’s to all our shame, to be honest,” Cllr. Murphy added.
In response a council official said there had been a significant step forward in recent times as the court had identified who legally owns the property. The official did not however give a clear indication as to the property’s future.
“In relation to the Ard Rí it has for a number for years been on the council radar, as I am sure you are all well aware,” the official said. “You will also be aware there was a landownership dispute between two individuals which has only been confirmed in the last 18 months.
“Until the ownership was satisfied the council couldn’t actually collect levies. So now it’s back on the radar and I know Land Management are currently looking at the property.”
The Council was contacted for further comment but had not replied by the time of going to press.
AARON KENT
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
