Waterford Council of Trade Unions has backed local residents opposing a major development in the Michael Street/New Street area on the basis that it would involve demolishing a huge swathe of the city centre.
Developers KRM have sought planning permission for a scheme that would include 20,000sq m of retail space, 800 car parking spaces, a 110-bedroom hotel, a sports bar with bowling alley and 29 apartments. Council president Tom Creedon said the proposed development on the site of an old brewery will be entirely out of scale with anything else in the city centre and will create huge traffic problems in the John Street and Castle Street areas.
Though the area needed regeneration, Mr Creedon said the scheme currently being proposed will entail the destruction of a historic quarter and will completely change the character of Waterford city for decades to come.
Describing the planned shopping centre as "a glass and concrete monolith", he said it would replace many notable and attractive 19th-century buildings and would be more suited to a greenfield site rather than narrow city streets.
"There is also the question of the impact on those who live in the immediate vicinity of this development. The houses on New Street will be demolished completely, forcing elderly residents who have lived there for many years to move out."
Mr Creedon said those who remained in Alexander Street and Stephen Street will have their lives dominated by this centre which will tower above their houses as well as having to put up with the noise and pollution of increased traffic.
"Waterford is the oldest city in Ireland and has much to offer tourists . . . By destroying the character of the city centre, this development will destroy much of what makes Waterford unique in favour of generic clothes shops and more McDonalds," Mr Creedon said.
He said residents had made clear their opposition at a public meeting convened by local Green Party activist Brendan McCann.
Mr Creedon said Mr McCann had risen above attempts to vilify him in sections of the local media in his defence of Waterford's heritage.
However, according to Gary Falconer, of architects CJ Falconer and Associates, objections had only been submitted by five local residents, one shopkeeper and An Taisce before the January 18th deadline.
"I don't know what the trades council is on about," he added. Mr Falconer said a considerable amount of the centre would be underground, to minimise its impact, and car-park entrances and exits were being designed to reduce congestion. A "dreadful looking" multi-storey car park was also being demolished.
Mr Falconer said a number of trial digs on the site had found no archaeology worth noting to date, though he had no doubt that some items may be discovered given the location just outside the old city walls.
