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Bridge Over Troubled Water
Protesters in canoe stop construction of Kilkenny bridge
An emergency council meeting on the controversial bridge is to be held this Saturday.
WORKS AT THE proposed Kilkenny Bridge which has caused so much controversy were halted today after protester got into the river today.
A number of protesters themselves went into the river this afternoon, while others went out in a canoe to stop the construction equipment on site from operating.
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Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Sinn Féin Councillor Kathleen Funchion said the protesters were successful in their campaign today as due to people being in the river, the works had to stop due to health and safety reasons.
The protesters are objecting to the construction of the bridge as it would mean more traffic, including more trucks, to the centre of the medieval city.
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Instead, there are calls for the funding allotted for the project to be used to finish a ring road, which could alleviate any traffic issues.
“The protesters were demonstrating today as there is an emergency council meeting being held this Saturday, where a motion, put down by me and Green Party Councillor Malcolm Noonan, will be heard,” explained Funchion.
The motion is calling for a review of the project, said Funchion, who explained they will need 12 councillors to back the motion. “It looks like the motion will be passed,” she said, explaining that a lot of pressure has been put on other councillors to call for a review.
Despite meetings being held this week and it being agreed that there would be an emergency meeting on the issue where a review would be discussed, the council decided to press on with the works for the next three days.
“It is crazy to keep doing the work,” said Funchion.
She said that the proposed bridge has been an ongoing issue for some time. She said she hoped that if the motion is passed, the terms of reference of the review would also be voted on at the meeting. “We are calling for an full independent review of the project, with full public consultation,” she said.
Leas Cathaoirleach of the council Patrick MaKee said that he supports calls for a fully independent review to be held. He told TheJournal.ie that there needed to be widespread public consultation on the issue.
The emergency council meeting will be held this Saturday at 11am.
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