DCCG Submissions on Sligo Airport Extension

Posted on September 24, 2008 | Filed Under Planning

You can download the submissions which were made by DCCG to the proposed extension of Sligo Airport runway onto Dorrins Strand:

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223 Objections Received to Sligo Airports Proposal to Build Runway on Dorrins Strand

Posted on September 15, 2008 | Filed Under Press Releases

In March 2007 Sligo Co Co received over 70 objections to Sligo Airports proposal to build a runway on the scenic and environmentally sensitive Dorrins Strand. Last Thursday (11 Sept 08) over 3 times the number of objections ( 223) were submitted in response to their recent application.

Sligo Airport Company withdrew their initial application and submitted a revised one in an effort to overcome concerns raised, by the Councils Planning Department, about many elements of the proposed project.

Dorrins & Cummeen Strand Conservation Group (DCCG), local residents, visitors from all over Ireland and the UK, shellfish farmers as well as NGOs such as Birdwatch Ireland and Keep Ireland Open have all exercised their right to object to the destruction of Dorrins Strand. The Department of Agriculture Coastal Zone and Marine Division (CZMD) made a submission in which they raised several concerns about the development and described the Environmental Impact Statement as “incomplete” in certain ways.

Chairman and Spokesman for the DCCG, John MacDermott said

“We are pleased with this growing support from the local and wider community. It is an endorsement for our highlighting the inherent dangers in a development of this scale on a public beach. We put the increase in opposition down to two things- (a) a greater awareness of the extent of the devastation that would be caused to this unique environment protected under local, national and EU law and (b) the fact that while all small airports are under severe economic pressures their application gave no evidence that Sligo airport will be able to overcome these difficulties and continue to operate into the future.

Sligo Airport did not establish any connection between having, or not having, this extension and the survival of the airport. Many people wanted to be assured that if they gave up their beach they would at least have an airport.“

DCCG are now calling on political representatives to take heed of the groundswell of public opinion on this subject. It is time for politicians to show political courage and leadership and draw up an integrated transportation policy and plan for Sligo and its environs and show what role air travel would play in such a plan.

Such a plan will have to take into account the new realities in our lives today with the need for sustainability and viability, the need to respect our environment, wildlife and our aquaculture industries.

We also ask the Planners in Sligo County Council to heed the many objections made in writing and reject this application.

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Closing Date for Objections to Airport Extension is 11th September,2008

Posted on September 4, 2008 | Filed Under Environment, Planning

Interested parties should note that the closing date for submissions (objections) to the proposed extension of Sligo Airport runway onto Dorrins Strand in Strandhill, is 5pm on 11th September 2008.

If you are concerned about this issue, then you must make your concerns known to Sligo County Council by making a submission to the council that will arrive in planning offices before this date.

To assist you in this process, we have prepared 2 templates for download.

Please feel free to use this as a guide for formulating your own objection and add any additional comments or objections that are not listed in the attached documents. Your submission is not valid unless it is accompanied by €20 fee. Please feel free to forward these details to friends who may be interested in this issue (but were unaware that a new application was in play) and who may wish to object.

Again – you must be aware that if the submission is not received in council offices before 5.00pm on 11th September then it is invalid.

If you have questions or require any further information please send an email to dorrins@hotmail.com – and we will assist you with your submission.

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