Residents And Stud Farm Oppose 24-Hour Helicopter Operations At Weston Airport

Friday, 31 May 2024 14:39

By Martin Osborne

Kildare North TD Catherine Murphy told Kfm that the noisiest flights will be from helicopters operating 24 hours a day.

Kildare residents have raised concerns about plans to introduce night-time flights at Weston Airport, located between Celbridge and Lucan, as part of the proposed establishment of a helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) base.

Weston Aviation Academy Ltd, the airport's owner, submitted plans for the SAR base.

The proposed facility, intended for emergency services, will need to operate 24 hours a day.

At present, flights are only permitted to use the facility between the hours of 8am and 8pm.

However, local residents and a Celbridge-based stud farm operator have opposed the proposal.

In a letter to the applicants, South Dublin County Council expressed concerns about the justification for the development, its location, access, and the orderly development of Weston Airport.

Kildare North TD Catherine Murphy told Kildare Today that the noisiest flights will be from helicopters operating around the clock.

The applicants claimed there would be no adverse impact on horses at the nearby stud farm.

They also stated that the impact on residents' sleep would be minor.

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