Weston Airport aircraft causing 'disruption' to North Kildare homes - claims Cllr

Aircraft flying to and from Weston Airport on the border with North Kildare are causing “disruption” to local residents by consistently flying too low over homes, according to a Social Democrats councillor.

Cllr Nuala Killeen asked the council to advise what measures it has in place in relation to monitoring and reporting of flight paths of airplanes and helicopters from Weston Airport.

She further called on the council to contact South Dublin County Council (SDCC) and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) with regard to the reported “disruption” caused.

Speaking on her motion - seconded by Cllr David Trost (FF), and raised at the September meeting of Celbridge Leixlip Municipal District - Cllr Killeen told the council there was a current “spike” in complaints regarding Weston Airport traffic.

People, she said, have persistently complained to Weston Airport about flights traveling directly above their homes.

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According to Cllr Killeen, there are talks about expanding Weston Airport, and it was important that the relevant bodies had all the information available to them from concerned residents.

Supporting the motion, Cllr Rupert Heather (LAB) said he has also been dealing with complaints about flight paths and noise, and the issue had become "problematic" with people who live near Weston Airport.

However, there was one dissenting voice in the council.

“I live probably closer to Weston Airport than anybody else in this room”, Cllr Bernard Caldwell (FF) interjected, “and I've no difficulty with Weston.”

Cllr Caldwell said Weston Airport has been in operation “since the late forties”, and “serves a great benefit to people.”

Cllr Caldwell pointed out that the air rescue service operates from Weston Airport, and that he was not going to object to a service which “saves people's lives.”

He told the council that the people who objected to Weston Airport “weren't there when it was built”, “so why did they come to live in an area where there's an airport?”

Cllr Heather told Cllr Caldwell that “nobody” was arguing against the benefits of Weston Airport, but that the purpose of the motion was to have Weston Airport be “more efficient” in terms of monitoring and reporting on flight paths.

Following a vote held in the council, it was agreed to write to SDCC and the Irish Aviation Authority about residents' concerns.

Cllr Caldwell asked that it be put on record that he voted against the motion.