All figures are in Euro

I am not saying whether the airport should be retained or not.  I am merely trying to ensure everyone is fully informed on the true cost before they decide. The overall cost to the taxpayer of funding the airport and the flight from Sligo to Dublin was €20 million over the last six years.  That is an average cost of 3.3 million per year. Over the six years that is an average subsidy per passenger per flight of €95.20 or €190.40 per round trip. With the drop off in passenger numbers over the  last two years the average is now closer to €150 per passenger per flight or €300 per passenger per round trip.

It is always good to know how the politicians are spending your money.

Mr Justice McKechnie in the high court on Friday 4th June 2010 quashed the decision by Sligo Co Co to grant planning permission to Sligo Airport to extend the runway onto Dorrins Strand.

In August 2009 Sligo Co Co granted Sligo Airport planning permission to build an extended runway onto Dorrins Strand in Sligo Bay. This permission was granted despite wide scale objections from local residents and other national bodies such as Dept of Environment, Heritage & Local Government, An Taisce and Birdwatch Ireland. It was opposed by the residents of Coney Island who were concerned at damage that would be done to the access road to the island. Finally it was opposed by fish farming interests because of the very real threat to critical operations in the immediate vicinity of the proposed extension.

Dorrins Strand is a fabulous amenity for local people and visitors; it is an area of outstanding natural beauty and it is protected under EU and national law as an important wildlife habitat. It is an SAC, an SPA and it is a listed Ramsar Site

Two local residents applied to the high court for a judicial review of Sligo Co Co’s decision to grant permission. After months of delay, multiple adjournments and a number of hearings, Justice McKechnie quashed the County Council decision in full in his decision on Friday.

The scheduled Bord Pleanala appeal which had been delayed under high court injunction, pending the outcome of the high court process will not now take place.

It leaves Sligo Airport back to square one with their development plans – three and half years after they first applied for planning permission to build a runway on Dorrins Strand.

Dorrins & Cummeen Strand Conservation Group (DCCG) welcome the decision of the court and we applaud and congratulate the two local people that took the high court action. It was a strong and courageous decision by them.

This result is a triumph for local activists who stood up for the protection of their local environment and the preservation of the rights of local people. This proposed development is totally unnecessary, is very damaging to the environment and hugely wasteful of much needed public funds.

The environmental group have criticized The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). They group state that they would not have had to go to the high court if the NPWS would do their job properly.

The NPWS is a section within the Department of The Environment, Heritage and Local Government who have responsibility for ensuring that Ireland’s protected areas are correctly managed and developed. This is their obligation under Irish and European Law.

A link to the article on Ocean FM here

Also link here to Friends of Irish Environment Site

Our group Dorrins & Cummeen Strand Conservation Group (DCCG) are also very unhappy with the role NPWS is playing in Sligo Airport’s proposal to build an extension to their runway and other related developments  on Dorrins Strand – a location which has the protection of multiple designations (SPA, SPA and Ramsar).

http://www.sbpost.ie/news/ireland/ireland-high-among-eu-environmental-offenders-47083.html#mon

The location in which Sligo Airport would build a runway extension on Dorrins Strand is an area designated under EU and Irish Law. The area is protected by the following designations:

Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

Special Protection area (SPA)

Candidate National Heritage Area (cNHA)

Shellfish Water Directive

It is quite astonishing that Sligo County Council have backed this plan because if it ever did get built, Sligo County Council and The Irish Government  could face huge fines from EU Commission for non-compliance with EU Environmental law.  Of course it is not really the Co Co or the Government who would pay such fines. That would be for you the taxpayer.

http://www.sligochampion.ie/temp/difficult-to-maintain-that-sligo-airport-is-vital-to-the-region-2039587.html

The text of John’s letter is published below :

Sir,

It is not correct to say as suggested in a recent article by Paul Deering that Sligo Airport will be able to cater for larger planes if the proposed extension is built. The runway will remain the same length so bigger planes will not be able to land. The extension is to cater for safety margins on both ends.

It is not correct to say that suggestions to move the airport to a green field site was to satisfy objectors. Moving to a green field site should stand on its own merits or otherwise. If the issue was seriously looked at 10 or 15 years ago then maybe the airport would be in a much stronger position to-day. It is now unlikely to be a viable solution for many years to come if ever.

It is not correct to imply that the only thing preventing the airport building an extension onto Dorrins strand is the existence of a few objectors. The problem for the airport is that Dorrins Strand belongs to the people, is a beautiful tranquil place, has a viable shell fish business and its environment is protected by stringent Irish and European laws. The airport has to overcome the law not the objectors. What does the airport mean to Sligo?

On the positive side it clearly provides a useful function. It is handy for Sligo people to fly to and from Dublin without having the bother of going to Knock. On top of that every time you fly you receive a minimum of 80 euro subsidy from the taxpayer. Understandably this is something people would not like to lose. It also gives some status to Sligo. Finally even though it is not its function it does provide important local jobs.

Clearly then it is a good thing for Sligo. If it is economically viable and does not destroy the environment or public beaches then most reasonable people would support it.

However, as it is getting taxpayers money and is proposing to rob people of their beach and their rights to avail of its amenities then it is reasonable that the issues be looked at in a more hard nosed way. Is it a vital asset to Sligo as is claimed?

This can only be said with any credibility if figures are put forward to back it up. No research has been done or figures published indicating the economic contribution the airport is making to the economy of the region.

In the absence of figures it is more logical to assume that it makes a very small contribution to the economy of the region and also because of good bus and rail links and the proximity of Knock airport it is difficult to maintain that it is vital to the region.

The first hard fact to be faced is that to provide Sligo Airport’s one air service route cost the taxpayer €25 million over the period 1998 to 2007.

With present plans it will cost the taxpayer another €10 million to build the runway extension and ongoing yearly costs of 2.5 to 3 million.

The question must be answered is this good value to the taxpayer?

Subsidising air travel to the region for business people or tourists who are bringing economic wealth to the region makes sense. If these people could use Knock or the rail service just as easily does it make sense to subsidise Sligo airport?

Is it fair to subsidise these people when the vast majority of people in Sligo could not afford to fly even at the subsidised prices.

This issue of whether subsidies are justifiable has to be faced. There is no way it should be avoided at any time but in these difficult economic times it has to be part of the equation when discussing cut backs in other areas.

It is therefore not correct for Mr. Deering and others to assert that it is in every ones interest that the airport would continue in its present subsidised form.

Unless we can get to the stage that the airport makes a substantial economic benefit to the region, and so benefits everyone, then we are using taxpayers money to benefit a very small number of people in Sligo.

Those who have an interest in the development of Sligo Airport should call for a business plan that will make the Airport viable and sustainable into the future. If this was done 10 years ago the airport would not be in the difficult position it is in to-day.

There is no point in having pie in the sky flights of fancy that we might have flights to London some day. If it did not happen in ten years of the Celtic Tiger it will not happen now or in the future without a realistic plan to achieve it.

The other issue that I feel was not correct in Mr. Deering’s article is that the airport needs this extension to survive or to continue to land planes safely. It is a self evident fact that the airport is landing planes safely at the moment. It has only a small restriction in order to do so. It cannot land planes with a full load of 70 passengers but must reduce the numbers to a maximum of 64 per flight.

If Sligo Airport could have an average load of say 60 passengers per flight to and from Dublin (as they are now allowed) then the business would be on the road to being financially viable.

Safety can be maintained without the extension and the lack of the extension is not the factor preventing the airport flying with an economic number of passengers per flight.

The viability of Sligo Airport is determined by factors other than an extension to the runway.

- John Mac Dermott, Chairman of Dorrins and Cummeen Strand Conservation Group

http://www.sligochampion.ie/temp/expansion-of-airport-not-in-everyones-interest-2039590.html

The text of her letter is as follows:

Sir

I read with dismay Mr Paul Deering’s report on reasons for us to be optimistic this year in last week’s Champion. His assertion that the expansion of Sligo Airport is in everyone’s interest is completely untrue.

The proposed absolute destruction of a protected area, an area of huge environmental importance, not to mention of great beauty is most definitely not “in everyone’s interest”.

It is not in the interest of the hundreds of people who walk this beach and around the headland each week, those who use this area for recreational purposes, swimming, horseriding, birdwatching and boat moorings. It is not in the interest of the sustainable shellfish industry operating on this strand, nor is in the interest of those people living and holidaying on Coney Island.

It is not in the interest of the taxpayers who are currently subsidising the airport. It is not in the interests of the residents of Strandhill who will be subjected to hundreds of trucks travelling through their village carrying tonnes of stone and infill to the site for at least 12 months.

The proposed extension onto Dorrin’s Strand will not allow the airport to cater for larger aircraft. The Airport currently operates in complete safety under a restricted load of 64 passengers per plane instead of 70.

The airport fails to make any case that justifies the destruction of this protected area. The total subsidy per passenger currently equates to Euo125 per trip or in the case of round trip Euro 250. Those who are opposed to this development are not “anti airport”.

We are opposed to the complete destruction of an area that brings great joy to local residents and visitors to our county. It is our duty as citizens and taxpayers of this country to protect our environment and natural landscape and to ensure that it is there to be enjoyed by many generations to come. Sligo deserves it.

Helen McCauley

VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

and

A HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR

As we go into the Christmas / New Year holiday period we have been advised that An Bord Pleanala have decided to hold an “oral hearing” to determine the planning application by Sligo Airport to build a runway on Dorrins Strand.  This is good as we believe that we have right on our side and if given the opportunity to present our case we believe that our stand against building on Dorrins Strand will be vindicated.

The date of the oral hearing has not been notified to us as yet but in the normal course of events we would anticipate that the hearing will take place early in 2010.

So finally a big thank you to those members who worked so hard during the year and a big thank to members of the public who generously donated much needed funds and supported our various fund raising events. Thank you also to those members of the public who just gave us their morale support. In a struggle that has now lasted three years having the support from the public is so important.  Thank You.

]]> http://www.dorrins.com/latest-news/2009/12/happy-christmas-everybody/feed/ 0 http://www.dorrins.com/latest-news/2009/12/community-art-exhibition-2/ http://www.dorrins.com/latest-news/2009/12/community-art-exhibition-2/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:45:14 +0000 joeg http://www.dorrins.com/?p=159

SEA SLIGO

Community Art Exhibition

CLARENCE HOTEL,  WINE ST,  SLIGO

Official Opening ~ 4th December @ 7.00 PM

Exhibits include  a collection of  Paintings, Fabrics, Photographs

and Sculpture from local artists.

All Welcome

The exhibition runs from Dec 4th to Dec 14th

Dorrins Cummeen Conservation Group

Community Art Exhibition

All Artists are invited to submit pieces for exhibition.

Venue: The Clarence Hotel, Wine Street, Sligo

Dates: Fri. 4th December to Mon. 14th December

Criteria:

• Any two dimensional Media including photography.
• One submission per person, no entry fee but 25% commission donated to Dorrins Cummeen Conservation Group Appeal.
• Maximum framed size of 600mm by 600mm ready for hanging, clearly labelled on back with details of name, address, title, price including commission.
• Insurance to be covered by artist.

Pieces that do not meet the criteria cannot be accepted. Should space be limited, hanging will be restricted accordingly.

Pieces need to be submitted at The Clarence Hotel on Tuesday 1st December between 11am and 7pm.

Contact: Contact Fionnuala on 086 8277018 for further details or enquiries.

Conservation of Ireland’s Brent Geese.

The lecture will be given at:

IT Sligo, Ash Lane, Sligo

at 8.00 PM on Friday 13 November

Presenting the results of flyway scale studies of arguably Ireland’s most important wintering water bird, the results of some hi-technology research and the direction of future studies.