Press Release – Call to Investigate Re-location of Sligo Airport

Posted on October 8, 2007 | Filed Under Press Releases 

Successful Meeting On Airport Controversy

Members of the Dorrin’s & Cummeen Strand Conservation Group (DCCG) hosted a successful and useful meeting with local councillors on Thursday evening (4th Oct 2007) at Strandhill. The councillors who attended included Cllr’s Albert Higgins, Sean McManus, Imelda Henry, Declan Bree, Tony McLoughlin, and Jim McGarry. Cllr Deirdre Healy McGowan sent apologies.

The meeting proved to be a very constructive exchange of views between all parties concerned and opened up alternatives that could now be explored.

Firstly, the DCCG made a comprehensive presentation to the Councillors using visual aids and large photographs. They presented, in a very visually graphic way, the impacts that the proposed runway extension would have on the local landscape, wildlife, ecology and not least local residents.

The graphic description of the total destruction of Dorrin’s strand made it clear to everyone that it was a nonsense to maintain, as the airport board does in its planning application, that the environment can be protected, jobs in the shell fish industry saved or that the rights of way of the community would be unimpeded.

The councillors present, including those on the Airport board, agreed that in any other circumstances they would oppose a proposal to build any structure on Dorrin’s strand. For example if a developer applied to build a row of houses in the same location on the strand everyone would be against it and it would not get planning permission based on its effect on the environment, the fact that it would be against EU law and also would be in contravention of the County Development Plan among many other obvious reasons. As an indication of how planning sensitive this area is local residence gave instances of not getting planning permission to build one house way up from the shore and others who had to wait 10 years to get theirs.

The only way that planning could be given for such a development was if it was an issue of great national need and if there were no alternatives.

The reason given why councillors on the board of the Airport voted for this development was because they believed that there was no alternatives and without the extension onto Dorrin’s strand the airport would close..

It was suggested by the meeting that there was no evidence that there was any in-debth study done of the alternative ways the runway could be extended on the present site. It was accepted by the councillors on the airport board that there was no study done on the feasibility of moving the airport to a green field site.

All those present agreed that Sligo should have the type of infrastructural development that would allow it achieve its objectives as a Gateway City. The view was expressed that, in its current location, Sligo Airport could never achieve those objectives.

What are the Alternatives?

In the second half of the meeting there was a full discussion on what the alternatives are. A number of people pointed out that even with the proposed runway extension, Sligo Airport in its current location would still experience severe limitations. The Airport would only be able to cater for the same type of turbo prop aircraft currently used. So even with the destruction of Dorrin’s Strand the airport would provide no extra benefits.

There is no prospect that, even with the extension, the Airport could handle jet aircraft similar to those used by Ryanair, Easyjet or Aer Lingus for carrying larger numbers of passengers directly to continental Europe. It will therefore not be able to provide the kind of air access that Sligo – the Gateway City, needs and deserves.

One local businessman present, who travels extensively by air, contrasted Sligo Strandhill Airport with Kerry Airport. He stated that Sligo Airport, while located in its current location at Strandhill, can never be an adequate airport. “Sligo deserves better” was the sentiment being expressed.

It was strongly suggested by several people present that the best location for a new Sligo Airport, to replace the current one, is somewhere close to main arterial road routes. The project should be to build an airport with a runway long enough to accommodate jet aircraft and which would provide adequate air access to the North West region for the next 50 years, and integrated with other modes of transport.

Many people present were attracted to the idea of building a new replacement airport on a greenfield site close to N4 / N17 in the Collooney area. This would leave the lands currently owned by the Airport in Strandhill available for more sensitive development.

It was seen as regrettable that the Airport board had not explored the alternatives with the community before now. If they had it seems likely that they would not now be putting us all under the threat – We need to destroy Dorrin’s strand or the airport closes.

It was suggested that a package could be put together which would make it economically possible to build the airport on a green field site. A number of people are to work on this.

The big fear is that Dorrin’s strand would be destroyed for ever and in a few years time the new extended runway would prove to be too short and the airport would then have to move or close.

No one present could guarantee that this would not happen. This is no way to plan for sustainable development.

Councillors asked for support

This part of the meeting explored how councillors could support the group in its efforts to protect Dorrin’s strand from destruction. Their main influence is in getting appropriate motions passed at council meetings. It was agreed to work on possible motions particularly ones in relation to getting research done on all the alternatives for Sligo airport and to explore how these options could be financed and progressed.

The meeting ended and the Councillors who attended were thanked for their participation and constructive exchange of ideas.

ENDS

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