The majority of the cost involved in cleaning up the dilapidated Ard Rí hotel in Ferrybank looks set to rest with Waterford City Council.
A resolution under the Local Government Act was put to the city council at their monthly meeting on Monday, enabling them to operate for both themselves and Kilkenny County Council under the Derelict Sites Act in performing all necessary functions required to remove the site from dereliction.
With the Tall Ships arriving in Waterford in the not too distant future, announcement of the unenviable task of marking the ruined site more aesthetically pleasing will be welcomed by all those disturbed by the decaying hotel’s ominous presence.
Cllr John Cummins expressed some concern that Waterford City Council would be faced with paying the majority of the cost involved in the clean up operation.
He suggested that the payment be divided according to the rates which were paid by the hotel, saying he wasn’t happy that the city council should face the burden of the cost.
“It has been said that we will have to pay more, but the rates that were paid by the hotel should be considered. If we got 55 per cent of the rates, then we should pay 55 per cent of the costs,” he said.
However, Mayor of Waterford Cllr Mary Roche said she was certainly willing to bear the cost instead of Kilkenny County Council.
“It’s not looking over their city. I’d be prepared for us to bear all the cost,” she said.
Director of Services Collette Byrne said the exact detail of the breakdown of costs had yet to be decided.
