Newtown’s Active Travel Push Ignored | Waterford News

A controversial Active Travel scheme in Newtown, Kilmacthomas, is moving forward despite fierce local opposition from councillors and residents. Backed by a Section 38 — a fast-track road safety measure — the project aims to prioritize pedestrians amid alarming stats: over 50 deaths and 2,000 serious injuries in Waterford’s roads in a decade, and 70% of cars clocking over 70 km/h in Newtown. Council’s Gabriel Hynes insists engineering changes are vital for safety and livability, even if they inconvenience drivers. But councillors like Catherine Burke and John O’Leary argue the public isn’t convinced, citing poor communication and past failures in similar projects across the region. With only one of six public submissions supporting the plan, the council is undeterred — safety, they say, must trump local resistance. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c6f905414168f7e0