Longer Weston Runway Planning Application Runs Into Problems

According to Cllr Catherine Murphy,  Kildare County Council have told Weston Aerodrome,  they cannot consider the current planning application for a longer “relocated” runway until they provide additional information.

The council are seeking  a full assessment,  to be conducted by an aviation expert,  of the impacts the proposed increase in runway length and relocation.   They point out that the   only noise analysis supplied by Weston relates to the South Dublin end of the site,   and even then   measurements were taken on the quietest day of the week in one of  the quietest months of the year.   The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Weston submitted with the 2008 application,  largely relates to 2002,  it had accompanied a previous application for the provision of Hangers in South Dublin;  the EIS  understandably concentrated on the Dublin end,  however,  it is on the opposite end of the site, in Kildare,  that  the longer relocated runway is now sought.

Highlighting some of the deficiencies in that EIS

1. The Council inform the applicant that Leixlip,  Celbridge and Lucan,  which the applicant states are villages are in fact substantial towns.
2. Weston are also asked “to clarify how the EIS can predict (at Section 3.6.5)  no negative impacts when no background survey or modelling work has been carried out for noise receptors to the west in Kildare.”   The council also requires “a clear statement of the intention of the airport in relation to ongoing noise monitoring .”.
3. The EIS is further faulted for making no mention of the impact on property values,  should restrictions be imposed on the area safeguarded around a longer relocated runway,  in that context  the Council have sought a report from a property valuer.
4. The Irish Aviation Authrity are also  to be consulted for “its observations in relation the effects  of the current proposals on buildings, structures,  ESB Lines,  trees etc on the Kildare end.”    Weston were also asked why they did not find it necessary to consult,  as part of the EIS preparations,  bodies such as the department of Defence (Casement Aerodrome flight path),  the Council’s Fire Service,  or the HSE (in relation to Noise).
5. Just as importantly, Weston have been asked to provide a chronology of all planning applications and their outcomes to  both South Dublin and Kildare County Council’s,  they are also reminded that An Bord Pleanala have not ruled on an appeal in relation to the widening of the  stopway/clearway in Kildare.  According to Cllr Murphy this will confirm that planning permission exists for a runway measuring 800m and not  the 1199m as indicated by Weston.
6. An Air quality survey is  sought together with  arrangements to protect the water quality in the adjacent reservoir;  which eventually ends up in our taps.

The range and depth of the material sought by the Council  points to a seriously flawed planning application Cllr Murphy concludes.

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Posted by catherinemurphy on February 7, 2009. Filed under Celbridge,Leixlip,Planning & Development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.