Proposals for airport near Arklow welcomed

PLANS FOR an international airport near Arklow have been given an enthusiastic welcome by members of Wicklow County Council.

The proposals, backed by businessman Pascal Taggart, envisage the development on a site – as yet unspecified – of about 600 acres south of Arklow town.

At a briefing for members of the county council this week, it was claimed a proposed Roadstone port south of Arklow, the proposed outer orbital route around Dublin, the Dublin to Rosslare railway line, and the proximity of the M11, could make Arklow an international transport hub.

Councillors were told the development had potential to bring in five million passengers a year, among them tourists, business people and freight handlers.

A management consultant and spokesman for the proposed airport Anthony Martin said yesterday he believed the planning and building would cost in the region of €100 million and could take four years to complete.

He said the airport had potential to create 5,000 full-time jobs.

Mr Martin said the airport would offer an alternative to using Dublin airport but should not be seen as competition, as the presence of the new airport would “grow the market”.

He said that those who were doubtful about the project now would change their minds when they saw the competent and professional plan which would be submitted to planners.

He said the board was also advised by personnel from Liverpool and East Midlands airports in Britain and received technical advice from a former chief pilot with British Airways.

Labour Party councillor Conal Kavanagh said councillors initially greeted news of the proposal “with a bit of a chuckle”, but many had to admit the new project had “a number of the right advisers and had put together a good presentation”.