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Local resident Eileen Foley pictured with Cllr John Pratt on a narrow stretch of the Ballyduff road close to the junction of the N72 which is to be widened following a long campaign which they were involved in. Eileen gathered over a thousand signatures on a petition to have the works done.

A 100 metre section of the Ballyduff road close to the junction of the N72 is to be widened. Waterford County Council has given the go ahead for the work to be done following a long campaign by locals.

"This is a very narrow section of road which has caused a lot of distress to motorists over many years," local councillor John Pratt, who has been involved in the campaign to get the works done, told The Avondhu this week.

Pointing out that it is a very well used road linking Ballyduff to Tallow, he said the works would be of great benefit. "Many elderly people find this a very tricky area as two vehicles cannot pass at the narrowest sections and reversing can be very difficult. It will benefit lorry drivers who use the road regularly bringing horses to and from The Beeches Stud which, at peak times, is a very busy part of the route.

"Having these works carried out will also help emergency services as time lost there could have very devastating effects for home owners if an ambulance or fire brigade was required."

The Tallow-based councillor was quick to commend locals for their campaign to have the work done, including local woman Eileen Foley who organised a petition which gathered over a thousand signatures, most of them received at a Gala Day in Ballyduff GAA field.

"Following that, I approached the landowners to try to get their permission to allow the works to be carried out, as it was very obvious that this was an issue which affected a large number of people who travelled the road regularly," the councillor explained.

Local engineer Noel Healy and Waterford County Council were willing to carry out the proposed works if the landowners were willing to give a six-foot strip of land free to facilitate them. Landowners Robert McCarthy of The Beeches Stud and Bridget Tobin-Savin of Tallow Hill, liaising through her sister Margaret Browne, were approached and, both agreed to allow the work to be done.

"I would like to personally thank both of them for this very kind community goodwill gesture," Cllr Pratt said. He added his thanks to the local engineer and Waterford County Council.

It is hoped to get the works completed early in the new year.

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