Interesting Developments at Knock Airport

Posted on August 28, 2009 | Filed Under Environment, Planning

We see in today’s Irish Times that the new landing system installed at Knock Airport has proved highly successful. Since its installation last April no flight has been diverted because of fog.

The new landing system together with other safety improvements were installed at a cost of €3.6 million.

“Scheduled flights from Ireland West (Knock Airport) now serve Dublin and Cork, as well as nine destinations in the UK, including London Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. A scheduled service also serves Alicante in Spain.

Charter services on the airport website include 10 locations from Portugal to eastern Europe.”

Clearly Knock has firmly established itself as The Regional Airport for the West, Northwest as well as part of the midlands and seems to be doing an excellent job.

Do we still think there is a need for two regional airports side by side? Is there a need for Sligo Airport to destroy Dorrins Strand? Is there a need to spend €10.0 million of taxpayer’s money on an airport that by virtue of its location will never become a sustainable piece of infrastructure?

We have to take care of our environment. It is long past time that the people in charge of our public finances took stock of the infrastructural needs in this region and began to target public spending more effectively and stop the profligate waste we saw during the Celtic Tiger years.

Contrary to some of the allegations made against our organisation, Dorrins and Cummeen Strand Group are very much in favour of economic development and we recognise the need for good infrastructure and its role in society. But it has to be sustainable development and infrastructure. Unlike some of the madness we have seen by unscrupulous developers in the last few years

Link to today’s Irish Times Article

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Sligo Co Co fail to follow advice of their own experts

Posted on August 20, 2009 | Filed Under Uncategorized

We have had the opportunity to review the internal reports of the Sligo Co Co staff in relation to the airport runway planning application. It is both reassuring and shocking to read.

It is reassuring that a number of the staff in the Co Co are trying to follow the guidelines laid down in the Habitats Directive. It is shocking that as specialists in their respective fields, that their advice appears to be ignored by their more senior colleagues.

For example the Environmental Services Officer in a report on 6th August ’09 about the Airport Planning Application said the following:

“The environmental issues in relation to this proposal have not been adequately addressed and I have concerns in relation to the proposed development and the enforcement of planning conditions if the application is granted”

The Heritage Officer’s report was even more specific and recommended that the planning application be rejected.

Copyright issues prevent us from reproducing the report in its entirety but we quote from it as follows from the Heritage Officer’s report:

“Art 6(3) of the Habitats Directivehas not been applied correctly in the EIS submitted by the applicant”

“Art 6(4) if applied to the cSAC and SPA affected by the proposed development must have regard to priority species and habitats. The alternative solutions proposed are site specific only and do not examine the zero, re-location to another airport such as Knock Airport, or greenfield options. Economic criteria cannot be seen to overrule ecological criteria at this point of an Art 6(4) assessment and it is proposed that the project proposal does not address these issues.”

Art 6(4) Invoking IROPI [Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest]
In invoking IROPI, stringent criteria must be met. The Planning Authority must consider that the project will allow for public interest, is overriding and is of long term interest. It is proposed that the project proposed does not deliver the scale of benefit required to invoke IROPI under the Habitats Directive and the issues of human health and public safety would be addressed by relocating the airport and/or airport services within the region.

Compensation
…… there is no clarity re the compensatory measures proposed, what the extent of the designation at Trabane Bay would be and how that would ensure the continued integrity of the cSAC and SPA…..

…. given the lack of information the Planning Authority would not be in a position to condition appropriate compensatory measures, or enforce them.

And the final conclusion is:

In the light of the above and particularly as the project proposal has failed to meet the requirements of Art 6(3) and Art 6(4) of the Habitats Directive it is recommended that the proposal be rejected.

You can read these reports in their entirety if you log on to Sligo Co Co website.
We salute the staff in the Co Co who are not afraid to stand up and say the truth. Such people are good public servants in the true meaning of the word.

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Meeting Last Night (18 Aug ‘09)

Posted on August 18, 2009 | Filed Under Environment, Uncategorized

Excellent meeting last night. Great turnout and good to see some new faces too.

The people in attendance unanimously condemned the decision by Sligo Co Co to grant planning permission to the Airport to build a runway on Dorrins Strand. In particular people feel badly let down by the politicians and the county manager who make up the majority of the Board of Directors at Sligo Airport. People also believe that Sligo planning department are acting unlawfully in granting planning permission on a Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area when the county council are legally responsible for protecting these designated areas instead of destroying them.

It was formally confirmed by the meeting that we will take our case to Bord Pleanala to have the decision by Sligo Co Co reversed.

It is a very unequal battle since the Airport have access to virtually unlimited funds to hire experts to fight their case whilst our group are reliant on private donations and collections from hard pressed members of the public.

If you can help with your time or if you would consider making a money donation to our case it would help enormously.

NEXT MEETING MONDAY 24 AUGUST @ 8PM ALSO IN KELLY’S, STRANDHILL

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Meeting – Tuesday 18 August

Posted on August 16, 2009 | Filed Under Uncategorized

Hi all members and supporters. There will be a meeting in the room at back of Kelly’s Bar, Strandhill on Tuesday evening, 18th August at 8.00 pm.

Main topic will be to discuss our response to the planning permission granted by Sligo Co Co to Sligo Airport for the construction of a 285 meter runway extension on Dorrins Strand.

All are welcome. Pass the word along. Bring a friend

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We are badly let down by Sligo Co Co Planning Dept

Posted on August 15, 2009 | Filed Under Environment

Late last night (14th August) it was announced on the Sligo Co Co website that planning permission has been granted to Sligo Airport for the 285 meter runway extension on Dorrins Strand. Sligo Co Co planning department have granted this permission in the face of overwhelming objection from local people and environmental groups.

Up to 300 objections have been made against this project including objections from Dept of Environment, Birdwatch Ireland, Birdwatch Sligo, An Taisce as well as detailed carefully researched objections from local residents and visitors to the area.

The environmental law and advice on this matter is very clear. This project can not go ahead and contravenes Irish and EU law.

The common sense of the case says that it cannot be correct to build an airport runway on a public beach and trample over the rights of local people and inflict irreparable damage to a magnificent wildlife habitat and the natural heritage.

Lastly in a time when every person in our society is experiencing severe cuts in income and extortionate increases in taxation how can the Board of Directors of the Airport justify this spending of public monies?

We really expected more from the six politicians and the County Manager; all of whom are on the Board of the Airport and clearly support this project, when the millions being spent could have been used to improve schools, hospitals, roads etc. What world do these people live in?

We will vigorously object to this planning decision with Bord Pleanala.

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Meeting – Tuesday 11th August

Posted on August 6, 2009 | Filed Under Uncategorized

Our next meeting will be held in the back room of Kelly’s Bar, Top Road, Strandhill, Sligo

at 8.00PM on Tuesday, 11 August 2009.

All are welcome

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