Dunmore native can land on his own private airstrip

By SIOBHÃÂN HOLLIMAN A NORTH Galway native, who lives in England, will soon be able to fly from his London home and land on his own private airstrip just outside Dunmore.[private] After a number of years attempting to get permission for the development, An Bord Pleanála has given the go-ahead to John Reddington, originally from Gurteen, to build an airstrip on lands he owns in Carrowntryla. Although he has been living in Ealing, London since the 1980s Mr Reddington returns to Dunmore for a holiday each year. A few years ago he obtained his pilot's licence and bought a small aircraft. During one trip home he felt that the level field at the back of the house in Dunmore would make a suitable airstrip. He used the land as an airstrip on an adhoc basis but stopped once the local authority served an enforcement notice as the development didn't have planning permission. Since then Mr Reddington has flown to Galway or Knock airports from London and in the meantime applied for planning application for his private airstrip. Last December, Galway Co Council refused permission stating that the airstrip would have an adverse effect on the residential amenities of nearby houses and would depreciate the value of these properties. Planners also said the airstrip would be hazardous and the landing and departure of aircraft would endanger the health and safety of people living nearby. However, Mr Reddington subsequently appealed the decision stating that residents in the area had no objection to the airstrip and letters to this effect were submitted. One letter from a local full-time farmer then wrote to An Bord Pleanála outlining his concerns about the airstrip and pointed out that he had been unaware of the application. He feared the airstrip would devalue his property, impact on his residential amenity and pose a hazard to his livestock. The Planning Appeals Board has now overturned the Council's decision and has granted planning permission for the private airstrip. The Board says that subject to a number of conditions, the development will not injure amenities or property in the area and is acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience. It has stipulated that no works to the southwest of a certain ditch close to the farmer's house can be carried out. The use of the airstrip is restricted to the registered aircraft of Mr Reddington and no other aircraft is permitted to land there without prior planning permission.[/private]