Air Corps SAR

roadmaster

SDCC have requested more Information on the Weston Base inculding operating hours.

This in theory could drag on after the contract starts but there is nothing stoping them using the existing hangar and dropping a few site offices to get them going.

davetherave

In fairness to the council, the requests for additional info do seem reasonable.

1. Permitted Usage The applicant is requested to specify the existing operating hours for air traffic at Weston Airport. It is noted the proposed facility is likely to accommodate 550 to 580 flights per annum which equates to less than 2.7% of the total permitted annual movements. The applicant is requested to specify the proposed operating hours for air traffic relating to maintenance, repair and overhaul associated with the proposed development and indicate what proportion of the projected flights are associated with this element of the proposals. While noting the demand-led nature of providing an emergency service, the applicant is also requested to specify the proposed operating hours for air traffic associated the emergency service and indicate how air traffic associated with this element of the proposals is likely to be spread across a typical 24-hour period and a typical week. This information is requested to help assess the impact the increased usage level and having regard to concerns raised by third-parties.

1. Public Safety Zones The subject site is located within the Public Safety Zones of Weston Airport. It is not, however, clear whether the proposed development is located within the Inner and/or Outer Public Safety Zones of Weston Airport. The applicant is requested to clarify this and compliance with Policy IE14: Public Safety Zones and its Objectives under the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028.

1. Signage The applicant is requested to submit additional information in relation to the proposed signage at the site entrance, including dimensions and materials. The Planning Authority would consider that the provision of 2 no. site entrance signs could lead to visual clutter and the proposed signage should therefore be reviewed in this context. 

1. The proposed access to the site would be via the existing emergency airside access from the R403 Celbridge Road. This existing access from R403 Celbridge Road was permitted for supplementary accident and emergency access/egress use only under Reg. Ref. SD08A/0729 & ABP Ref. PL06S.233306. This was in the interests of the orderly development of Weston Airport and traffic safety. There is a 6-year road proposal objective along R403 Celbridge Road and 6-year road proposal objectives (under the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028) joining this road in proximity to the access, including the new L2010 Cellbridge Link Road. The Roads Department and the Planning Authority would have concerns that the permanent use of this access could prejudice the future delivery of these roads objectives.

In fairness you can't go around turning what is an emergency access point into an active entrance/exit point.

1. . Car Parking The applicant is requested to submit details on the number of workers/staff and daily visitors to the development, along with a reduced car parking numbers based on active travel and public transport

This was given in the traffic plan in the original documentation. 18 office staff working 0900-1700, and 6 crew on a 24 hour 1300-1330. SDCC rules allowed them to have up to 28 parking spaces based on the 6 bedrooms, 1 car each, 1 parking space per 100sqm of Warehousing (1100sqm), and 1 parking space per 50sqm of office (550).

1. Surface water, foul water, drainage water, engineering reports: This seems like something that should have been provided in the required format to begin with

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121776346#Comment_121776346

Sometimes when doing a planning app if there is a chance that there may be submissions that could cauuse you issues the consulatant will not put all the info in. That way the LA will show there hand in what information they want you can go back with a responce that covers all the questions.

In five years we might see air corps PC24s in the SAR colours

roadmaster

CHC are not giving up yet on the SAR Contract. There is an interesting aspect of the latest legal challenge they are bringing.

They are claiming issues on the shannon base and the wages versus the contract price. I hope eamon ryans minnions have done everything by the book or it could cost the state a lot of money.

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2024/03/04/company-brings-new-challenge-over-800m-irish-coast-guard-rescue-service-contract/

vswr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121851541#Comment_121851541

I doubt they have, there were a lot of cracks in the process which assumed CHC would just bend over and release the contract.

Government were quite deriding about CHC losing to Bristow, FAFO I suppose.

roadmaster

In the Irish Times Article about the latest CHC court Case they state the following

CHC also claims the modifications mean Bristow is no longer required to operate the service from Shannon Airport as of October 31st next

Does that mean Bristow are looking at a possabile different base or are CHC just mudding the water?

Dohvolle

CHC mudding the water, of course.

roadmaster

Bristows Agent have lodged the responce to the FI for the Weston Base. A answer is due by the end of the month. I was suprised with some of the Noise responces as they referenced the UK alot such as HS2.

I know from previous planning apps i have been involved in that can be a fatal move as it can leave a door open to a challenge as you are not showing like for like in Ireland. I can see this heading for the High Court if it is granted.