By Niall Boyle

niall@sligopost.com

Plans to extend Sligo Airport will destroy a natural channel that flows between the airport and Coney Island Dorrins & Cummeen Strand Conservation Group have warned.

As part of the airport’s proposals to Sligo County Council for the 259 metre extension of the airport’s runway, a natural meandering channel that flows close to the runway is to be replaced with a straight concrete structure.

Chairman of the group, John McDermott told the Sligo Post: “The natural channel that meanders around the bay creates a balance that is not easily achieved.

“The planned extension includes concrete margins, on either side of the runway, and it would be like a giant concrete tee cutting into the strand.”

Proposals by the airport include the building of a new artificial channel which would join up with the remainder of the existing channel after the runway extension.

However Mr McDermott is concerned about the viability of an artificial channel in this area of great natural beauty: “The key question would be the viability of the artificial channel, whether it would fill with silt or flow fast enough to support the sea-life in the area.

“Further research needs to be carried out in the area, as any development could potentially damage the environmental balance of the strand.”

The environmental group are organising a number of walks along the strand during the summer months, visit. www.dorrins.com for more information.