Milestones

Sligo Airport Quest for Planning Permission

A Summary of the Key Milestones

January ’07
Sligo Airport applies for planning permission to extend their runway by some 270 meters on to Dorrins Strand.

January ’07
Arising from a public meeting in Strandhill National School, Dorrins and Cummeen Strand Conservation Group (DCCG) is formed.

March ’07
Seventy-five local people make written objections to the Sligo Co Co Planning Department against the building on Dorrins Strand.

March ’07
Sligo Co Co writes to Sligo Airport requesting a substantial quantity of further information.

September ’07
Sligo Airport submits the further information. It is a substantial document but short on critical facts

October ’07
Sligo Co Co Planning Department write to Sligo Airport seeking further clarification; essentially saying the further information supplied was incomplete.

August ’08
The Airport suddenly and unexpectedly withdraws their planning application on 7th August

August ’08
On the following day – 8th August ’08, The Airport submits a fresh application for the same proposal except that on this occasion the runway extension has grown from 270 meters long to 285 meters

August ’08
At a cost of €20 per person, 225 people take the time to write out their objections to the proposal and submit them to Sligo Co Co Planning Department.

September ’08
Despite the fact that this was their third attempt, Sligo Airport was still unable to get it right. Sligo Co Co writes to The Airport to seek substantial further information.

March ’09
Sligo Airport are unable to meet the deadline for submitting the further information and request a three month extension.

June ’09
Nine months later Sligo Airport manage to respond to the request for further information.

July ’09
During July ’09 a further 96 written objections were received by Sligo Co Co outlining reasons to not grant planning permission. This brings to well over 300 written objections made against this project

14 August ’09
Sligo Co Co grant planning permission to the Airport to construct a 285 meter long runway extension on Dorrins Strand

11 September ’09

Dorrins & Cummeen Strand Conservation Group (DCCG) filed an appeal to An Bord Pleanala against Sligo Co Co’s decision.  Five other organisations including Dept of Environment, An Taisce and Birdwatch Ireland also filed appeals to An Bord Pleanala

November ’09

An Bord Pleanala decides to hold an oral hearing to decide the case.  No date set for the oral hearing as yet

December ’09

Two local residents take up a different approach.  They apply directly to the High Court to have the quash the decision of Sligo Co Co to grant permission.

February ’10

Bord Pleanala decide not to proceed with the oral hearing appeal until the High Court makes a decision on the proceedings set in train by two local residents.

June ’10

On 4th June following a number of sittings and adjournments The High Court quashed the planning decision made by Sligo Co Co to grant planning permission to Sligo Airport to build their runway extension on Dorrins Strand.  As a result of this there is no requirement for Bord Pleanala to consider the matter any further.

A battle that had started three and half years earlier in January 2007 ended in victory for local activists who dared to stand up for the environment.  It demonstrates that when local people stand together against against big business with powerful connections a good result can be achieved.

The Brent geese will rest easier.