N25 Toll Plaza

cococoady

The toll plaza will now be charging for people to use the bridge during the Tall Ships race even tho Rice Bridge will be closed to all traffic.
This is absolutely rediculous. That toll should be never of been put there in the first place anyway :mad:



http://www.wlrfm.com/news-and-sport/waterford-news/29292.html

http://www.wlrfm.com/news-and-sport/waterford-news/29363.html

ziedth

Can't say I blame them. Think of the money they'll make,

STIG83

It's a lot of money they would lose if they lifted the toll for the tall ships, would people use it if the tolls were reduced to half price for the few days?
That definitely won't happen.

Big Lar

Its not all bad.

The park and ride facilities in place for the festival will be free before 10 o'clock to facilitate people working in the city centre

Cabaal

Anyone know will the quays be closed for all the hours of the tall ships or will the roads close at a set time say 8am or something?

Trick of the Tail

I would guess that if they'd agreed to lift the tolls, they would expect to get compensated at least in part for the usual level of revenue that they would lose.

I know the funding for the TS has been difficult, so perhaps thats where the plan fell through.

A.

south

I know people who cross the bridge for work won't be one bit happy.

STIG83

Put it this way, €1.80 is a lot cheaper than having to pay €3.00 on the M50.

south

Your not forced to use the m50

Max Powers

not really a big issue is it. if you dont want to pay you can go to carrick and head to Waterford via that road and cork road so no one is forced .

STIG83

I would have no problem paying a toll, the amount of fuel you would waste stuck in traffic in a city or town.

Minstrel27

Is the closing of Rice bridge really necessary? What is it being used for over the weekend of the Tall Ships?

gman2k

Max Powers wrote: »

not really a big issue is it. if you dont want to pay you can go to carrick and head to Waterford via that road and cork road so no one is forced .

Sorry Max, but are you trolling?
I suppose one could also head on over to the Passage East ferry to avoid it also?

KingLoser

Max Powers wrote: »

not really a big issue is it. if you dont want to pay you can go to carrick and head to Waterford via that road and cork road so no one is forced .

ya only have to go to fiddown actually..!

i still don't think it's right, if the other bridge is closed, this one should be free, simple as. money-hungry c*nts!

Trick of the Tail

Well its a private company, why should they lose the income they would usually have at the weekend?

I agree it should be toll-free but Suir-Toll (or whatever they're called) should be compensated to the tune of their usual weekend take.

A.

Dum_Dum

When situations like this arise it exposes the simple truth that the bridge was not built for the benefit of the people of the SE but for the operators and our bankrupt political class.

Hoffmans

hold on now a minute !

the whole reason the council and mrs cheese&winereceptions roche gave for closin 4 lanes of traffic on rice bridge was to accomodate pedestrians :rolleyes: and they justified it by promising that the toll barriers would be lifted for the 3 days!

what the hell do pedestrians need 4 lanes of the n25 to wander around a few boats?
2 would be more than enough leaving two open for traffic ,same as they do when theres roadworks of the cops are out on their overtime doin a checkpoint....

ziedth

It's hard to blame the toll operators for all this though. I mean they are a private company and I'd imagine want to make as much money off the tall ships as they can (like anybody else).

I agree that two lanes would be more then enough for people walking over the bridge.

Bards

I thought they had to legally lift the barriers due to lack of toll free alternative route?

wmpdd3

Hoffmans wrote: »

hold on now a minute !

the whole reason the council and mrs cheese&winereceptions roche gave for closin 4 lanes of traffic on rice bridge was to accomodate pedestrians :rolleyes: and they justified it by promising that the toll barriers would be lifted for the 3 days!

what the hell do pedestrians need 4 lanes of the n25 to wander around a few boats?
2 would be more than enough leaving two open for traffic ,same as they do when theres roadworks of the cops are out on their overtime doin a checkpoint....

I was on the bridge last time during some serious over crowding, I fell into a buggy on top of a baby and couldn't get out.

Right so, how does this park and ride thing work?

You need the full bridge for pedestrians.

But I will not pay that tool on principle. I somehow have to make it from Ferrybank to the Dunmore rd at 8am.

Knew I should have booked holidays for that weekend.

Marchandire

A secondary issue with this: the Council said months ago that tolling would suspended for the tall ships festival. Local people were very pleased by this and receptive to the idea - but now it turns out to be load of crap - and just before the festival gets under way.

It seems that they were happy to accept the goodwill and credit for the announcement, while never actually having to power to enforce it. This will actually effect the travel plans of a lot of visitors, I'd imagine.

Typical local politicians.

gman2k

No point giving out here about local politicians, start the ball rolling now by bombarding them with texts, calls, facebook messages etc.

fricatus

Dum_Dum wrote: »

When situations like this arise it exposes the simple truth that the bridge was not built for the benefit of the people of the SE but for the operators and our bankrupt political class.

Very true. It was an investment opportunity for the investors, when what we needed was for our government, which had at the time, tons of cash at its disposal, to invest that cash (which we had all worked hard for and paid in tax) for the benefit of the people by building a second river crossing in Waterford.

wmpdd3 wrote: »

But I will not pay that tool on principle. I somehow have to make it from Ferrybank to the Dunmore rd at 8am.

However this little protest of yours will inconvenience nobody but yourself, and for your own peace of mind, you'd just be better off paying up and getting to work on time.

It's less than the price of two pints, and while I'm sorry to sound condescending, the toll company isn't going to give a rodent's rectum whether you drive up to Fiddown or stay on the south side of the river or whatever, for two days. If everyone stayed away, every day, then they'd have to listen, but you and I know that ain't gonna happen.

gman2k wrote: »

No point giving out here about local politicians, start the ball rolling now by bombarding them with texts, calls, facebook messages etc.

A much better solution! I'm personally not all that bothered, but if you are, there are plenty of forums out there who would love to bash our local elected representatives over the head. Talk to Joe! And ring George Hook - he's always looking for stories of injustice, and would no doubt be delighted to harrumph into the Newstalk microphone on your behalf.

It will be very interesting to see what comes out about this, because surely to God anyone who would promise that the toll barriers would be lifted would have this in writing, on official paper, delivered by registered post, digitally signed, in blood, from the toll company. If they don't, I really pity whoever was stupid enough to take a flyer like this!

Max Powers

i cant believe the pathetic whinging about a tiny non-issue in this thread. its all more pub talk, complaining and moaning about everything. I dont think even the joe duffy or george hook complainers would take this rubbish on board.

Silverado

Is this not a golden opportunity for Celtic Roads to win the hearts and minds of the people of Waterford. If they showed the magnanimity to open the bridge to all for the event then they might encourage us to use the facility more often.

There are a lot of people in the locality who have never used the bridge and this might just encourage them to start. Celtic Roads would win brownie points at the same time.

Now they are just going to leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth which will cause the opposite to happen.

fatherbuzcagney

Can't see any reason for free toll over tallships weekend, if anything im delighted that they can't increase the toll charge for weekend as many other businesses will definitly be ingreasing their prices to make most of the oppertunity.

Driving home last night i came on a diversion that put about 5 miles extra on my journey home, im hardly going to complain to the co council that it cost me more in petrol due to diversion .

fricatus

Silverado wrote: »

There are a lot of people in the locality who have never used the bridge and this might just encourage them to start. Celtic Roads would win brownie points at the same time.

I think you're being a bit naïve there in fairness. People know damn well that the new bridge is there, but they don't want to spend the €1.80 to cross it when there's a free alternative in town (even if it means wasting petrol in traffic; if only people had a petrol consumption meter like a taxi meter in their cars...)

You open it for the duration of the Tall Ships, and of course people will gladly take their free spin over. But I don't think they'll suddenly start using it once the Tall Ships have sailed and it's €1.80 again.

fricatus

Max Powers wrote: »

i cant believe the pathetic whinging about a tiny non-issue in this thread. its all more pub talk, complaining and moaning about everything. I dont think even the joe duffy or george hook complainers would take this rubbish on board.

You're entitled of course to think it's a pathetic non-issue, but do you seriously think Joe Duffy and the Hooky Bear are only concerned with the Big Issues of the day?

Minstrel27

Silverado wrote: »

Is this not a golden opportunity for Celtic Roads to win the hearts and minds of the people of Waterford. If they showed the magnanimity to open the bridge to all for the event then they might encourage us to use the facility more often.

There are a lot of people in the locality who have never used the bridge and this might just encourage them to start. Celtic Roads would win brownie points at the same time.

Now they are just going to leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth which will cause the opposite to happen.

I don't see why they would want to win the hearts of the people of Waterford. Once the free bridge is open again people would go back to using it.

The big problem here is the politicians who told everyone it would be free.

Aquos76

I think a lot of people are totally missing the point here, the city council are under obligation to the residents of ferrybank and S Kilkenny to provide them with an alternative to gain FREE access into the city centre, and before anyone mentions it, fiddown is not a viable alternative, when the announcement was made the the bridge was to be closed for the duration of the tall ships it was also announced that the tolls would be lifted on the suir bridge for that duration also.

The reason the council have not been able to implement a total ban in the city centre of greater that 3ton trucks is for this reason alone, they are not able to provide a free alternative. The council are going to have to sort out this issue.

I did read that Taxi's and buses will still be able to use Rice bridge during the day, but may be subject to restrictions at certain times.

Max Powers

fricatus wrote: »

You're entitled of course to think it's a pathetic non-issue, but do you seriously think Joe Duffy and the Hooky Bear are only concerned with the Big Issues of the day?

I think rice bridge being closed is a tiny inconvenience we should gladly welcome for the millions and visitors that will come to Waterford City. I believe any intelligent person should see that and get on their life. If Rice bridge was open, the same people would complain that it should be closed for duration of Tall Ships, safety reasons etc.

wmpdd3

Some guests who have booked to stay on that side of the river for the weekend have been calling for clarification. They are not happy, could result in cancellations if there are rooms available in Tramore / Dunmore etc.

Gadgie

I'm pretty annoyed about this. I live in Ferrybank and work on the industrial estate. I also usually visit my parents in Dunmore at the weekend.

Now, in addition to adding several miles onto my journey, I have to pay for the privilege? Not happy.

fricatus

Max Powers wrote: »

I think rice bridge being closed is a tiny inconvenience we should gladly welcome for the millions and visitors that will come to Waterford City.

You're dead right about that, and I agree 100%. However you're missing the point, which is that people were told "OK, Rice Bridge will be closed, but you'll be able to use the other bridge for free if you've to get to work, do deliveries etc."

This promise has been reneged on, and that's what people are p155ed off about. Had the city council kept their traps shut, sure, people would have whinged about Rice Bridge being closed, but they would have grudgingly accepted it in the end (IMO...)

Hoffmans

Gadgie wrote: »

I'm pretty annoyed about this. I live in Ferrybank and work on the industrial estate. I also usually visit my parents in Dunmore at the weekend.

Now, in addition to adding several miles onto my journey, I have to pay for the privilege? Not happy.

whos going to stop me goin about my business, i pay road tax this entitles me to drive the roads ,as they say its illegal to otherwise, under our constituion they cant stop anyone drivin the bridge if they want....

Aquos76

Just wondering, have the city council applied for a temperory closure of the bridge for the dates in question, I remember seeing a submission in the local papers a few weeks back for the temporary closure of colbeck street to facilate the opening of the Viking quarter, the submission also contained alternative routes.

Cabaal

Hoffmans wrote: »

whos going to stop me goin about my business, i pay road tax this entitles me to drive the roads ,as they say its illegal to otherwise, under our constituion they cant stop anyone drivin the bridge if they want....

You pay MOTOR TAX, which is added to a general fund like many other taxes and is not specifically earmarked for roads. Anybody that pays ANY tax has just as much right to use roads as you do.

Lets hope they do close the bridge just so we can see your name in the paper for acting the tit when Gardai stop you and likely detain you for failing to obey a Gardai and trying to drive over pedestrians who are walking on the bridge :pac:

200motels

It's the counsel's fault for stating for the past few months that the new bridge would be toll free, well the company who run the tolls have said no agreement had been entered into with our inept counsel.

dohertykkwdpd

Hoffmans wrote: »

whos going to stop me goin about my business, i pay road tax this entitles me to drive the roads ,as they say its illegal to otherwise, under our constituion they cant stop anyone drivin the bridge if they want....

The by-pass is a private road, owned by a private company, paid for by private money. The people who will stop you going about you business are the owners of that road who don't care if you have been inconvenienced.

Waterford hosted the tall ships in 2005 when there was no by-pass and people managerd just fine. Now Waterford CC have decided to close the bridge, its Waterford CC that should be answering the questions not CRG.

CRG did try to negotiate with Waterford CC but they said that they had no money to pay the toll. The private car parks on the key are given compensation when the key is closed and they cant open so why do people think it should be any different for a toll road.

Wateford CC anounced that the toll would be free to try and force CRG's hand because they will not get 'brownie points' if they don't. CRG did the wright thing by trying to negotiate but Waterford CC wern't intrested.

dayshah

dohertykkwdpd wrote: »

The by-pass is a private road, owned by a private company, paid for by private money.

:rolleyes:

Chiparus

Will cyclists be banned from using Rice bridge?

I believe they are banned from using the toll bridge?

Cabaal

Chiparus wrote: »

Will cyclists be banned from using Rice bridge?

I believe they are banned from using the toll bridge?

Doubt they would be in the same manner as you could cycle down the quays, common sense would be a factor however. Obviously cycling down the quays at 40km/hour not slowing down and paying attention won't make the Gardai and others a fan of you

Worse come to worse you could dismount and just walk across the bridge sure

Cyclist are banned from the toll bridge alright

Cabaal

dohertykkwdpd wrote: »

The by-pass is a private road, owned by a private company, paid for by private money.

dayshah wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Well "technically" its correct, public finances were not used to fund the initial actual building of the road. So it wasn't public money as in tax's, government funding etc.

Trick of the Tail

Cabaal wrote: »

Lets hope they do close the bridge just so we can see your name in the paper for acting the tit when Gardai stop you and likely detain you for failing to obey a Gardai and trying to drive over pedestrians who are walking on the bridge :pac:

Well a Garda can arrest you for failing to obey them while acting in the course of their duty.

A Garda's duty is to uphold the law. There is no law that has been passed to close the bridge. There MAY be a temporary by-law, but I'm not sure if the Gardai are charged with upholding by-laws, or whether any infringement has to be dealt with as a private prosecution by the issuing authority.

Now of course they might detain you for allegedly Acting in a Manner Liable to Cause a Breach of the Peace.

That's IF the City Council have acted correctly in closing Rice Bridge, which is by no means certain.

However, its obvious that the CC and the Tall Ships organisers were acting without authority when they publicised that the Suir Bridge would be toll-free. Its not the bridge ops' fault, its the CC and the organisers who are at fault here.

A.

munchkin_utd

200motels wrote: »

It's the counsel's fault for stating for the past few months that the new bridge would be toll free, well the company who run the tolls have said no agreement had been entered into with our inept counsel.

Quote of the thread!

When this came up a few months back I scoured the net looking for an official statement and none was forthcoming apart from a throwaway remark from a senior guard.
On the official website that had minute details on all aspects of the organisation - not a dickybird - because it wasnt a done deal.

Such a potentially massive move by a private profit making company to forfeit their revenues on the busiest weekend in the history of Waterford - come on, thats too good to be true to be doing out of the good of their heart!!
Its perfectly within their rights that the company charge as per normal.

Will the pubs in Waterford be selling pints for free? Or shops giving "essentials" like food and water for free?
Nope. They will be raking it in good time and so long as theres no rip off price increases then fair play to them.

Chiparus

munchkin_utd wrote: »

Quote of the thread!


Will the pubs in Waterford be selling pints for free? Or shops giving "essentials" like food and water for free?
Nope. They will be raking it in good time and so long as theres no rip off price increases then fair play to them.

I don't have to drink in the Waterford pub, I do have to get to the other side of the river.

cococoady

munchkin_utd wrote: »

Will the pubs in Waterford be selling pints for free? Or shops giving "essentials" like food and water for free?
Nope. They will be raking it in good time and so long as theres no rip off price increases then fair play to them.

You can't compare the bridge to a pub.
The accessibility to a bridge is a necessity but going to a pub isn't.

200motels

cococoady wrote: »

You can't compare the bridge to a pub.
The accessibility to a bridge is a necessity but going to a pub isn't.

I think your missing the point of the members comments, all he was saying is all businesses are there to make a profit, the toll bridge employ people so have to pay them, so Why not charge when there's lots of traffic about. It's our inept counsel fault for not doing a deal.

cococoady

200motels wrote: »

I think your missing the point of the members comments, all he was saying is all businesses are there to make a profit, the toll bridge employ people so have to pay them, so Why not charge when there's lots of traffic about. It's our inept counsel fault for not doing a deal.

I agree that it's the councils fault. They should never have said that the toll would be lifted when a deal wasn't in place.
Something has to be sorted out tho.
You can't expect people who use the Rice Bridge on a daily basis to have to pay the toll.
The council will have to come to some sort of arrangement to get this sorted.

Knightfall

Nothing will be done about it. We can all moan away here to our heart's content but at the end of the day Rice Bridge will be closed, the toll bridge won't be free and we'll all have to just cope! Not idea, but that's life!

jonnyfingers

Knightfall wrote: »

Nothing will be done about it. We can all moan away here to our heart's content but at the end of the day Rice Bridge will be closed, the toll bridge won't be free and we'll all have to just cope! Not idea, but that's life!

If everyone shows up to the toll plaza and refuses to pay it won't take long before the traffic jam caused will force them to open the barrier.

It's disgraceful to close a free bridge and not provide another free alternative.