The ongoing saga with the new North Runway at Dublin Airport took a significant turn for the worse for some Meath residents since last week. This Wednesday ,residents from the greater Ashbourne area will meet an Oireachtas committee to discuss the problem.
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A spokesperson fort St Margarets and the Ward residents association told Meath Live, “We’ll go in and put our point of view across, one of the big problems at the moment is the new runway which was intended to reduce noise levels near the houses is onkly used during the day no night time flights use it they all use the old runway.
“Incredibly it appears the noise is causing problems further afield, I have had calls from people in Trim and also Rathdrum in Wicklow who are affected.
‘We’ll explain the problem but the Dublin Airport Authority and the other relevant bodies have declined an invitation to appear before the committee.’
The residents have received backing from Ashbourne based TD, Sinn Féins, Darren O’Rourke.
He said, “Revised flight paths came into effect on 23rd February and instead of seeing an improvement, some residents in Co. Meath have reported a very significant increase in noise pollution and in aircraft fumes. This is particularly the case in the Greenogue area outside Ashbourne.
“These houses were never planned to be on the flight path but now the windows are shaking with the noise of planes flying over every 3 minutes. Householders were never notified and homes were not insulated. It is hugely frustrating.
“This is an absolute shambles by the daa. They have completely failed to prepare for the operation of the new runway. They planned for one set of flight paths. Once they opened the runway they had to change these and now, in a supposed effort to rectify their mistake, the updated flight paths which came into operation last week have made matters worse. It’s a complete mess.
“There are lots of questions for daa to answer about their handling of this whole saga, about the operation of the new flight paths and about the mitigations for householders and local communities. I have written to them seeking answers.
“There is huge frustration. I am not surprised that there are reports of possible legal action.
“This Wednesday, residents from St. Margaret’s and the Ward will present before a private meeting of the Oireachtas Transport Committee on these issues. Following that, I’m sure the Committee will seek answers from daa also.”