Very Successful Night at The Races

Posted on October 24, 2009 | Filed Under Uncategorized

We had a fantastic night at the “races” in Harry’s Bar, Rosses Point.  A great night for the high rollers to flash the cash and try to outwit the bookie.

The night generated some much needed funds for our cause and heightened awareness of the cause to protect Dorrins Strand from the outrageous proposal by Sligo Airport and Sligo Co Co to destroy it.

As well as that we had fantastic fun.  A great night.

Many thanks to all of the sponsors who sponsored a race  or a horse.  Many thanks to Redmond and Fionnula for their hard work in organising the event

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Family Fun for Coney Island Bangers and Mash Smash

Posted on September 22, 2009 | Filed Under Uncategorized

Over 400 people took to the shores of Dorrins and Cummeen Strand last Sunday 20th September for a ramble to Coney Island. All were out in support of the Dorrins and Cummeen Conservation Group Bangers and Mash Bash to raise funds for the appeal against the planning permission granted by Sligo County Council to Sligo Northwest Airport Company Limited for the extension of the runway onto 12 acres of Dorrins Strand and its channels. This extension is planned to facilitate the planes that currently operate at Sligo Airport under Irish Aviation Authority safety restrictions, but will not take any larger planes. Many visitors were familiar with the journey across the sands via the 14 pillars, but there were eager comments from a number of Sligo locals and natives that it was their first ever visit to Coney Island.

A steady hum of conversation and laughter from families and friends, young and old, formed the soundtrack for the half hour walk as a steady trickle of people made their way across the strand over the course of the afternoon. The overcast but pleasant day in the fresh air ensured that appetites were well whetted for what proved a veritable feast of fresh, buttery mash and stewed onion served alongside delicious gourmet sausages from Brendan Feeney, supplier of Mallon’s and Laughnane’s sausages, and from Coopershill Venison. There was also plenty of tea and coffee on offer with tasty chunks of sweet cake rustled up by the hard working ladies and friends of Dorrins and Cummeen Conservation Group. All was eagerly consumed to the strains of Francie Lenehan, who struck up the entertainment for the troops, joined later in the day by the percussion sounds of Savagé.

Overall, the day was a great success as a community took to its feet to raise awareness and funds towards fighting the massive destruction that will ensue if the proposed project of extending Sligo’s runway proceeds. If you wish to find out more about Dorrins and Cummeen Conservation Group please visit www.dorrins.com or call 086-8277018. Dorrins and Cummeen Conservation Group would like to thank everybody that helped out and supported the efforts of the day that raised approximately €1,900.

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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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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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Reminder – Just a week to get your objection in

Posted on July 24, 2009 | Filed Under Uncategorized

Following on from the furnishing of further information to the County Council, you have only one week left to make a submission to the Planning Office about that. The final day for receipt of a submission / objection is close of business on 31st July 2009. The Council is quite strict on this deadline.

If you have already made an objection to the original Planning Application and paid your €20.00 you can make your second submission free of charge.

The threat of the destruction of Dorrins Strand, the destruction of the local habitat in the area and the blocking of access to recreational areas is still very real.

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Sligo Vision Website

Posted on July 22, 2009 | Filed Under Uncategorized

I just want to let you know about this link to a relativlely new website called Sligo Vision. It seems to be a useful forum to keep up to date with all the issues that Sligo people (and further afield) are talking about. I will put up a permanent link to the site when I figure out how to do that.

Sligo Vision Website Link

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Sligo Airport – Carpark Extension

Posted on July 1, 2009 | Filed Under Environment, Uncategorized

Sligo Airport have advertised in this week’s Sligo Champion that they have submitted significant further information and revised plans in relation to their planning application to extend the airport carpark.

This development is taking place on a cSAC (Special Area of Conservation) and pNHA (National Heritage Area). Dorrins Group, An Taisce and Department of Environment made submissions outlining concerns about these plans.

Subsequent to that Sligo Co Co Planners requested a more detailed study to be conducted in relation to the impacts of this development and requested justification for the need for expansion.

The answers to these questions are now supplied in the Further Information.

We believe that the latest further information does not adequately answer the questions and concerns stated at the outset. We will therefore be making further submissions to the Planning Department outlining our concerns.

You can get further information about this application on the Sligo Co Co Website at this link

LINK

If you believe this is development is a threat to the local environment you are within your rights to make a submission to the Planning Department at Sligo Co Co

Contact us at Dorrins [at] hotmail.com or leave comments below.

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Airport supplies further information

Posted on July 1, 2009 | Filed Under Uncategorized

The planning application for the Runway Extension at Sligo airport is still under consideration by the Sligo Co Co Planning Office.

The Planning Office had requested further information on 30th September 2008 and the response was provided on Monday of this week. ie 30th June 2009.

We have not been able to obtain a copy of the information supplied and the staff at the planning office informed us verbally that the new information comprises a very lengthy report. We hope to get a copy of it in the next few days and we expect that it will be posted on Sligo Co Co website on Thursday of this week.

You can try to view it on the Council website at this link

LINK

This new development means that we have to work hard to try and figure out what the new information tell us and what our response to it will be.

It is a time for all “all hands on deck” If you have not been attending the meetings in recent times please be advised that our next meeting is Tuesday 7th July at Kelly’s Bar, Strandhill.

All are welcome

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