The Waterford/Kilkenny Boundary Review Committee has recommended a boundary extension for Waterford into South Kilkenny.
The committee considered submissions it received from the elected members and senior management teams of both Kilkenny County Council and Waterford City and County Council in addition to the wide range of issues raised by almost 20,000 members of the general public in their submissions.
They recommends that the Minister should extend the boundary of Waterford City and County Council into County Kilkenny by including the entire Electoral Area of Kilculliheen and those parts of the Electoral Areas of Aglish and Dunkitt contained within the Area of Interest that lie south of the of the N25 bypass.
Former Mayor of Waterford Cllr. John Cummins who led the delegation and preparation of Waterford City and County Council’s submission to the independent boundary commission has called on the government and Fianna Fail as the supporting partner to implement the recommendations as a matter of urgency.
Cllr. Cummins explained the findings to Beat News, "it's to exclude the area of Slieverue and the Port area - it's to take in the full electoral area of Kilculliheen and part of two other electoral areas.
It will allow Waterford City the room to expand while also taking account of the fact that Kilkenny has a very strong identity in the Slieverue area and they've also invested heavily in the infrastructure around the Port area."
He went on to say, "I believe the Independent Commission have been very thorough and fair in their recommendations.
Like I said they've excluded the likes of the Port and Slieverue which formed the main basis of opposition from Kilkenny.
They've also allowed enough room for the city to expand to the north of the river Suir - passed the Ferrybank area.
I really welcome the recommendations - I think they're fair, I think they will update what the boundary commission themselves have said is an impractical boundary."
The reaction from Kilkenny hasn't been so positive. A joint statement was issued this evening by Councillors Matt Doran, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council and Ger Frisby, Cathaoirleach of Piltown Municipal District.
The statement read:
Kilkenny County Council totally rejects the recommendations of the report of the Waterford Boundary Review Committee published this evening on the Department of Housing, Planning and Community and Local Government website according to Councillors Matt Doran and Ger Frisby.
Councillor Doran said: "The entire process, from its initial terms of reference to the current conclusions of the report are skewed entirely towards the requirements of Waterford city at the expense of the people of Kilkenny. The wishes of over 19,000 submissions made against the proposals by people impacted in Kilkenny have been ignored. We will fight this every step of the way".
"The recommendations of this report are outrageous and will not be accepted," according to Ger Frisby, Cathaoirleach of the Piltown Municipal District, the area most impacted by the proposed changes: "The report can try and dress it up any way it wants, this is all about Waterford and Kilkenny will use all means necessary to ensure it does not go any further."
"While it will take some time to study the content and conclusions of the report, an initial examination of the document shows that it flies in the face of the wishes of the overwhelming majority of the people effected in Kilkenny while being inconsistent, illogical and setting a precedent which if followed will have wide ranging implications for many counties throughout the country," according to Councillor Doran.
Councillor Frisby refers to possible compensation payable to Kilkenny in respect of the changes an issue which is recommended in the report. "This is an insult and no amount of money can compensate the people or the county for damage to its identity which if passed cannot be reversed," he said.
See full report here
