Latest news with #aircraftviewing
Irish Times
27-06-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Dublin Airport area residents appeal against permission for viewing platform
Residents living beside Dublin Airport have lodged an appeal against Fingal County Council's decision to grant planning permission for an aircraft viewing facility, citing concerns over potentially contaminated soil at the site. St Margaret's The Ward residents' group said that although it broadly favours improvement works at the observation mound, there is a risk to public health and the environment following the granting of permission. With its approval, granted late last month, airport operator DAA aims to significantly enhance the site of the current informal airport viewing point – a layby locally known as 'The Mound', which has been in operation for more than 40 years – on the Old Airport Road. After receiving the permission , the airport's managing director, Gary McLean, said the public's reaction to the proposal had been 'incredibly positive'. He said the new facility would make airplane viewing 'safer and more enjoyable'. READ MORE However, Liam O'Gradaigh, spokesman for the residents' group, claimed the issue of alleged soil contamination and its treatment at the site were not adequately addressed in Fingal's decision to grant permission to DAA. The council also ruled out any environmental assessment. Soil contaminations from PFOS (a synthetic chemical used to make products resistant to stains, grease, soil, and water) and PFAS (known as forever chemicals), posed a threat to public health and no screening or assessment were provided for in the council's decision, he said. PFAS (per-and poly-fluoroalkylated substances) have become a legacy problem globally, including at airports where firefighting foam containing the chemicals was once used. A 28-month monitoring programme undertaken on behalf of DAA by environmental consultants Fehily Timoney between 2021 and 2023 confirmed the presence of 'forever chemicals' at a number of sample sites across its campus. Mr O'Gradaigh said: 'We have witnessed how responsible State organisations such as MetroLink and Transport Infrastructure Ireland have handled such issues.' He said the group learned from a hearing on Metrolink that some excavations near the Mound led to the discovery of contamination. That contaminated soil is going to be shipped overseas by these State bodies, he said. 'The airport campus is one of Ireland's largest known PFAS/PFOS contamination sites and worryingly is hydrologically linked to the European sites along the Dublin coast,' he said. 'There has to be proper oversight, assessment and mitigation plans put in place.' In their appeal, the residents claim issues relating to soil contamination were raised in third-party submissions and were not addressed by DAA in a further information request. 'We are extremely disappointed with this opinion as we provided ample proof that the site is in very close proximity to known PFAS/PFOS discoveries as part of the Metrolink preliminary investigations,' the group wrote in its submission. 'The airport is widely known to have a serious PFAS/PFOS contamination issue and Fingal County Council have been appointed by the EPA to oversee the issue,' it said. DAA has been asked to comment.
BreakingNews.ie
09-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
DAA steps up plans for new public viewing facility at Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport said the delivery of improved viewing facilities for the public to watch planes take off and land on the airport's runways will be able to progress after it provided Fingal County Council with additional information regarding a proposal submitted by daa last year. DAA's proposal is to significantly enhance the site of the current informal airport viewing point on Old Airport Road, locally known as "The Mound". Advertisement The site is fully owned by Dublin Airport and the construction of the free-to-access facility would be paid for by DAA as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting and working with the local community. The DAA made an initial planning application to Fingal County Council last year and was requested to submit further information regarding aspects of the proposed development, which it has now done. Additional information provided by the DAA includes: an agreement to relocate bicycle parking facilities on the site; details of the materials that would be used in construction; and answers to other questions posed by the planning authority regarding the decision to include/not include certain amenities within the development. The facility would provide a comfortable, dry and safe space for the community to view aircraft movements, with a clear view of the south runway (10R/28L) and the cross-wind runway (16/34) at Dublin Airport. Advertisement The proposal would replace the existing muddy grass mound and informal parking area with a dedicated car park with 22 parking spaces (including spaces for people with reduced mobility and dedicated family spaces), bike parking, and an elevated covered platform with seating. The facility will be fully-lit, with power provided by solar panels located on the site Gary McLean, managing director of Dublin Airport: "Aircraft observation facilities are a feature of airports around the world, and we want to get on and build this as soon as possible. "The public reaction to our proposal, which we'd pay for, has been incredibly positive and people really want it. Ireland Woman whose husband is detained in Dubai meets wit... Read More "This location has been an informal 'plane-spotting' area over the past 40 years and we think it's time to put a more formal facility in place. Advertisement "It's a rite of passage for kids in Dublin to be taken to 'The Mound' to watch the planes landing and taking off at the airport. "This new facility would make it safer and more enjoyable for users and we think it's a facility that the local community will really enjoy. We look forward to working with the planning authority to deliver this much-wanted public amenity which would be used by locals young and old for decades to come.'
