Oct

19

The plans to extend Sligo Airport onto Dorrins Strands gets discussed  on Politics.ie

Latest news on the attempts by the  local conservation group are also well worth keeping up to date with.

Mar

15

On Friday 9th March, the Dorrin’s & Cummeen Conservation Group (DCCG) were invited to meet with representatives of Sligo Airport and their consultants. Councillor Higgins, Chairman of the Board of Sligo Airport, billed this meeting as the start of a consultation process between Airport personnel and representatives of the local community.

The meeting started with the expert consultants to the Airport giving presentations on why the extension to the East Side was the only feasible option. It became clear that despite this meeting being a consultation process, the Airport were not in favour of changing their plans despite the opposition voiced in two recent public meetings in Strandhill and over 70 objections to Sligo County Council’s Planning Section. The airport also suggested that it would have to close if it did not extend the runway to the East.

A spokesperson for the Dorrin’s & Cummeen Conservation Group addressed the meeting and asked the Airport Company to withdraw the current application for planning permission. He said this would instill confidence in the consultation process between the Airport and the Strandhill community.

He also stated that the application for planning permission submitted by the Airport was comprehensively flawed. The vast majority of Strandhill residents are deeply concerned about building a runway extension on Dorrin’s Strand with the consequent damage to the ecology, wildlife, heritage, and access to recreational activities. Local residents also have grave concerns for the access road to Coney Island and the massive damage to the local fish farming industries by the proposal to divert the channel from its current course.

In response to the request to withdraw the planning application, Councillor Albert Higgins, Chairman of the Airport Company, stated that such a decision would need to be considered by the airport company and that he would bring this DCCG request to the board.

The DCCG concerns with the inadequacy of the Environmental Impact Statement were supported by the Sligo Co. Co. Planning Department who had written a lengthy letter to the Airport seeking further information on a wide range of issues concerning the application.

Mar

1

Over 40 people attended a public meeting tonight in strandhill to discuss the conservation of Dorrins Strand - the area of Sligo Bay in Strandhill, that will be directly affected by the proposed eastward extension of Sligo Regional Airport.

As with an initial meeting held in the first week in February, the discussion and input from the floor was passionate but reasonable; the common feeling was that the airport company have the requirement to extend the runway due to safety and legislative pressures, but also that the option chosen is a poor one. The consultants report in particular, has come in for some criticism.

Some key tasks will be carried out over the coming days - contact with local representatives, a petition distributed within the local community, as well as a meeting between the Airport company and representives from the conservation group.

Feb

19

Had a quick check on the Sligo County Council website just now for submissions made on the planned runway extension - 72 so far - wow!

Looks like the public meeting and ensuing debate has really galvanised the community.

Feb

9

Over 100 people attended a public meeting in Strandhill last night to show their concern over the proposed new 270 metre eastward extension of the runway into Dorrins Strand.

Chaired by Alfie Parkes, representatives from the Airport Board as well as those directly affected by the developments made statements on their positions.

A lively debate ensued from the floor. All of those who spoke were unanimous in their hopes that the runway can be extended, but threw serious doubt on the decision to extend east. The quality of the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) was questioned by a number of well qualified individuals, as was the apparent decision by the board to choose the less expensive option. For the record, the option to develop west into the Atlantic is apparently technically possible - but at least double the price (€10.2m).

A lively and passionate evening - this one has a long way to go.


Feb

6

At a recent AGM of the Strandhill Development Association, there was disquiet regarding the proposed extension of the runway into Dorrins Strand. According to An Irish Town Planner’s Blog recounting from an Irish Independent piece

“The proposed €5m extension to the runway of Sligo airport at Strandhill will see the construction of a 270m platform onto the mudflats at Dorrins Bay, on its eastern end.

But locals claim that the development will destroy a safe recreational and bathing area as well as wiping out a nature reserve and bird sanctuary and ruining the livelihoods of several shellfish farmers.”

For those interested, there is a meeting planned for this week (thursday, 8th February) - presumably local press for more details. Details of the application are available on the Sligo County Council Website, planning number is 0722.

Closing date for submissions is 14th February.

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