Airport near Clifden would be an `act of vandalism'

Development of an airstrip with State support near Clifden in Co Galway would be an act of vandalism, an oral hearing has heard in Galway.

The developers' environmental impact statement (EIS) to An Bord Pleanala was "severely flawed" and ignored the unique archaeological potential of pristine blanket bog, a British author and broadcaster, Mr Mike Harding, told the planning board hearing yesterday.

Several objectors expressed concern that Duchas, the Heritage Service, had not been given a copy of the EIS before the hearing began. The site was the third earmarked by Clifden and West Connemara Airport Plc at Cloon and Laghtanabba, north-west of Clifden.

The first site proposed - at Ardagh on Roundstone Bog - was abandoned after it aroused national and international environmental opposition.

Local tourism interests involved in the project engaged the support of the Minister of State for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Mr Eamon O Cuiv, two years ago when a second site, beside a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) at Derrygimlagh, was proposed in a swap arrangement with the State.

The Save the Roundstone Bog Campaign spearheaded objections to that site and a compromise third location was identified, with the help of Udaras na Gaeltachta. Development of an airstrip, terminal building and car parking was approved by Galway County Council last year.

Mr Breandan Breathnach, project manager and consultant engineer with Udaras, told the hearing he had been commissioned in January 1999 by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands to carry out a feasibility study on airfields for Inishbofin, Clare Island, Inishturk and Clifden, similar to those on the Aran Islands, for aircraft carrying eight passengers.

Mr Harding, the main appellant, referred to a memo by Dr Noel Kirby of Duchas, which confirmed the area was not in a designated SAC. However, the area would "merit designation based on its present condition", Dr Kirby's memo said.

Mr Harding questioned the need for another airport, given the west was already served by Knock, Inverin and Galway. The needs of islanders on Inishbofin served only as a "cynical" excuse for State backing for the project, he said.

The blanket bog was habitat for several endangered species of flora and fauna, including the skylark, and the unspoilt wilderness was "a gene pool and a reservoir for the future", he said.

Until a proper remote sensing survey was carried out, knowledge of its archaeological importance was incomplete, Mr Harding argued. He said he believed the category two classification in the county development plan was incorrect.

Mr Harding quoted from letters from Tim Robinson, author and cartographer, who set up the Save the Roundstone Bog Campaign, and naturalist Dr David Bellamy. Mr Robinson had said the fact he had not objected to the third site "did not mean that he approved of it".

Further objections were made by Mr Dermot Mooney of Environmental Alliance Action Ireland; Mr Derrick Hambleton of An Taisce's Galway branch, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council and Bird Watch Ireland.

Mr Paul Hughes of the airport developers denied the company wanted to encourage "mass tourism" to the area. Mr Aidan McCormack of the Department said it was the Department's policy to improve transport to the islands and the link to Clifden made sense within this.

The hearing continues today.