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  • DCCG Submissions on Sligo Airport Extension
  • 223 Objections Received to Sligo Airport’s Proposal to Build Runway on Dorrin’s Strand
  • Closing Date for Objections to Airport Extension is 11th September,2008
  • New Application by Sligo Airport Company
  • DCCG Chairperson interview with Ocean FM
  • Sligo Airport to withdraw planning application to build on Dorrins Strand.
  • Walk to Coney Island in Pictures - 25th November 2007
  • Live Music Gig in Kellys Strandhill on 22nd February
  • Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Meets DCCG
  • TV footage of Walk to Coney Island

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DCCG Chairperson interview with Ocean FM

Posted on June 20, 2008 | Filed Under Events, Media

John McDermott was interviewed by OceanFM on 19th June ( thanks to the station for allowing us to use this audio on the site). The piece is approximately 17 minutes long.

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Walk to Coney Island in Pictures - 25th November 2007

Posted on February 22, 2008 | Filed Under Events, Media, Pictures

We put our pictures from the day into a short movie slide show.

Live Music Gig in Kellys Strandhill on 22nd February

Posted on February 18, 2008 | Filed Under Events

Featuring Rick Epping, Gerry Harrington, Gregory Daly, Ray Coen, Francis Lenehan & The Shelley River Band, Felip Carbonell & Anna Houston, The Ice Buddies, John Lenehan.

Tickets available at Kellys Bar Pub (086-80300334) or ring Noel (087-7489384). Doors open at 9.30pm.

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Meets DCCG

Posted on February 15, 2008 | Filed Under Environment, Events

A Delegation from the  Dorrins and Cummeen Strand Conservation Group
have met with Mr John Gormley, TD and Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local
Government.  The meeting took place on Monday evening 11th February
while Minister Gormley was visiting the area.

During the meeting the DCCG delegation outlined in detail to the Minister their concerns for the conservation of Dorrins and Cummeen Strand arising out of the threat posed by the proposal to build an extension to the runway of Sligo Airport on the public beach at
Dorrins Strand.

Minister Gormley engaged constructively with the delegation, asking many pertinent questions demonstrating a clear understanding of the special status of this environmentally sensitive area.

At the end of the meeting the DCCG delegation were pleased with the Minister’s response and are confident that Minister goes away with a clear understanding of the issues and the threat to local environment posed by the Airport project.

We would like to acknowledge local Green Party representative Mr Brian Scanlon who organised the meeting with Minister Gormley for us.

TV footage of Walk to Coney Island

Posted on January 18, 2008 | Filed Under Events, Media

The walk to Coney Island in November 2007 was very successful. TG4 covered the event and aired this piece later that evening in their News roundup.

Next meeting of DCCG - 17th January

Posted on January 14, 2008 | Filed Under Events

Next meeting of the Dorrins & Cummeen Conservation Group is on Thursday 17th January at 8pm in Strandhill National School. All are welcome.

Support the right of way to Coney Island - Walk with us on Sunday, 25th November

Posted on November 12, 2007 | Filed Under Environment, Events

The centuries old right of way access to Coney Island via Dorrins Strand is threatened by the planned eastern extension of Sligo Airport.

We would like to invite walkers, ramblers or those just interested in getting lots of fresh air before the start of the Christmas festivities  to join us on a Sunday morning walk t o  Coney Island on 25th November. Along the way, you will find out more about the local area and the surroundings, and find out more about the Dorrins Cummeen Conservation Group.

The Assembly point is the car park at Brees pub (beside the Texaco station on the right hand side as you enter the village) at 10am. As ever - bring warm clothing, appropriate footwear and some food and drink.

We will publish more details as they become available, and look forward to seeing you on the 25th.

Presentation given to Sligo County Councillors on Sligo Airport Extension plans

Posted on October 18, 2007 | Filed Under Events, Media, Pictures

This was the slide presentation given to Sligo County Councillors on 4th October 2007 by members of the Dorrins-Cummeeen Conservation Group.

Briefing Statement Provided to Sligo County Councillors on Sligo Airport Extension plans

Posted on October 5, 2007 | Filed Under Events, Planning

The following briefing statment was circulated to all of the Sligo County Councillors present at last nights meetings convened by Dorrins-Cummeen Conservation Group. Councillors present included Tony McLaughlin, Albert Higgins, Jim McGarry, Declan Bree and Imelda Henry.

Briefing Statement to Local Councillors (Oct. 4th 2007)

Introduction:
Sligo needs to develop its infrastructure in line with its designation as a Gateway City and its aspiration to achieve the objectives set out under that designation. Fundamental to the achievement of this objective is a coordinated and integrated approach to communication, transport, energy and industrial development. This presents a very exacting challenge to our leaders in public life. The current proposal to extend the runway at the airport in Strandhill falls short of this challenge on a number of fronts, but in particular in that it fails to provide the infrastructure that would allow the required level of opportunity to support future industrial expansion.

Issues:

1. The proposal should be rejected by the planning authorities. The response of the consultants to the request for further information was to submit, not just additional information, but a substantially changed plan. Under planning laws, this should form the substance of a new planning application.
2. The proposal provides only a stop-gap solution. Whereas the proposed extension would allow for the safe operation of the aircraft type currently in use, what if the regulations change, or the operator changes the aircraft type?
3. The proposal does not allow for tourism expansion. If a tour operator wishes to bring tour groups to Sligo, this will only be economical if aircraft of 150 seat capacity and over can be used. This would require a runway of 2000 metres or more. Further destruction of this sensitive landscape would be required, to achieve this.
4. The proposal represents unsustainable development environmentally, ecologically, commercially and economically. It is unsustainable to suggest sacrificing a precious beach of international ecological significance in favour of 259 metres of tarmac. It is unsustainable to suggest importing 286,000 cubic metres of quarried material as a foundation for 259 metres of tarmac. It is unsustainable to propose a plan which will eliminate a thriving export business in organic farmed clams, which provides valuable jobs and export revenue. It is unsustainable to propose spending such enormous quantities of public funds to such little effect, in an attempt to enable the airport to become commercially viable.
5. The proposal is out of line with related infrastructural developments. The Inner Relief Road has provided a corridor, along which significant industrial development has already taken place, in line with development plans. The airport in Strandhill was never planned; it happened by accident, growing out of an aero club landing strip. Access to other transport infrastructure is a vitally important component in the development of air transport. Efforts to create a vibrant airport, capable of providing the scale of service required by a Gateway City, will always be hindered by the limitations outlined above.

In your position as an elected representative, we would request you to show vision and leadership and to represent our views to that effect in the council chamber.

Birdwatch Ireland Outing for Early October

Posted on September 24, 2007 | Filed Under Environment, Events

Birdwatch Ireland are organising an event for Sunday, 7th October. The plan currently is to meet at 1.30pm at the end of the Old Airport Road (at the shoreline).

Trevor from Birdwatch Ireland informs us that we might see some of the following species on the day : Brent Geese, Oystercatchers, Redshank, Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Mallard, Wigeon, Turnstones, Dunlin, Red Breasted Mergansers, common Gull, Great Black Blacked Gull as well as the possibility of Golden Plover, Lapwing, Peregrine Falcon and other birds of Prey.

keep looking »