In our weekend edition we carried a report about alternative plans for the North Quays. With the deal for the sale falling through after a long legal wrangle, the scene looks very desolate, apart from the sign for the Tall Ships. The scrap metal on the Quayside is also an eyesore.
The City Council has a plan for the area as stated earlier in the year. Iterested citizens and business persons have alternative plans as published, with a third bridge crossing proposed from The Mall to Ferrybank.
They are not too enthusiastic about the pedestrian bridge across to the Clock Tower. A change in traffic movements on the Quay is also proposed.
Such topics can be debated, but with no sale having taken place for the North Quay wharf site the likelihood of anything happening is limited.
The action instead will move to the South Quays to the Waterford Stanley site where there is an opportunity for major redevelopment. The new bypass, developments at Gracedieu will all bring extra potential to this area at Bilberry so close to the city centre.
Waterford City Council will be glad to see this old historic industrial area cleaned up. Extra activity may revitalise efforts to get a new action plan for the North Quays. Government offices and other public sector activities here could see employment grow and revitalise the city centre and Ferrybank.
A conference centre has been suggested in the past by Minister Cullen, but would require public investment. New avenues of discussions may need to be opened up among the interested parties.
We may have some property slowdown but as one expert pointed out, now is the time to be planning for when the next upturn takes place and the city of Waterford is positioned to take advantage.