About

Posted on March 25, 2007 | Filed Under Uncategorized

Introduction
Dorrins & Cummeen Strand Conservation Group are a group of people from Strandhill and around the Sligo area who have come together to protect and conserve the wonderful natural amenity that is Dorrins & Cummeen Strand.

The people involved in this group are very much in favour of progress and infrastructural improvement for Sligo and the North West. However we also believe that this development has to be balanced, and take into account the needs and rights of local residents and business, and also seek to conserve our heritage, wild life and very special environment.

Background
In January 2007, Sligo Airport, which is based in Strandhill, Co Sligo, applied to Sligo County Council for planning permission to extend the airport runway by 259 metres and to erect additional structures which includes new aviation lighting and security fencing.

The existing runway is land locked at both the east and west end. Their proposal to get around this is build an artificial platform of some 270 metres long and 150 metres wide on the east end of the runway on Dorrin’s Strand. This would include the re-routing of the channel that flows in the area with completely unpredictable consequences.

Public Concerns
The application raised immediate concern with local people. The concerns raised in two public meetings were manifold and can be summarised under the following headings:

1. Destruction and loss of visual amenity and visually vulnerable - confirmed as such by the Sligo Co Co Strategic Plan 2003 - 2009
2. Destruction of wildlife habitat, particularly for wintering water birds such Brent Geese, Oystercatcher, Knot, Sanderling, Bar-tailed Godwit and Redshank.
3. Loss to the community of access to the Dorrins & Cummeen Strand area for recreational uses for swimming/bathing, boating, angling, horse riding, walking and more.
4. The location is home to one of the biggest clam farming enterprises in Europe and the construction of the “platform” will basically close this business down with loss of 15-20 jobs.
5. Local residents were greatly concerned that the proposed construction and the diversion of the channel would have unpredictable effects on the access road to Coney Island.
6. Destruction and loss of a designated National Heritage Area (NHA), a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a designated Special Protection Area (SPA) under local, national and EU protection and legislation.
7. The area is also an internationally recognised location under The Ramsar International Convention due to its significance as an important habitat for wild birds.
8. The Environmental Impact Statement, which was part of the planning application, seemed to be wholly inadequate and aimed more at justifying the application rather than being an independent assessment of the environmental impacts.
9. The proposal would cost €10 million (and probably more) of public funds. It would also have enormous impacts on the local environment, ecology, and wildlife and on the whole quality of life for local residents. Despite this, no effort has been made by the Airport’s planning application or EIS to do a cost benefit analysis or a socio / economic benefit analysis.

Ongoing Events
Our people were involved in two meetings with the Airport Directors and Management during which these concerns were voiced. The Airport Company was prevailed upon to withdraw the application and consult more widely with the community. The Airport Company have refused to do so.

Sligo County Council Planning Department received over 70 submissions from the public objecting to the application and requesting the Planning Department to refuse permission.

The Planning Department in Sligo County Council have written to the Airport Company requesting “Further Information” Their letter seeking further information was four and half pages long and echoes many of the concerns raised by our group and the public and reflects many of the concerns raised in the submissions made by the public.

Current Status
The application now rests until the Airport Company complies with the request by Sligo County Council for further information. In our last meeting with the Airport personnel they indicated that they were making best efforts to get that information and proceed with the proposal.

Actions Required
Dorrins & Cummeen Strand Conservation Group ask for your support in conserving this unique part of Sligo Bay. Our immediate aims are:

1. Have the present application for planning permission by Sligo Airport withdrawn.
2.Ensure there is no extension to the runway onto Dorrins Strand.
3.Preserve and conserve Dorrins & Cummeen strand and the surrounding hinterland.

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