Airport group causes ‘noisy’ UPROAR

Some of the UPROAR group during their journey through Portmarnock to raise awareness of the possible second runway’s noise level.

By John Manning

UPROAR lived up to its name this weekend when it caused something of an uproar around Portmarnock as it introduced residents to the noise levels it believes a second parallel runway at Dublin Airport would bring to the town.

On Saturday, representatives from the organisation opposed to the construction of the proposed new runway took a large sound system around a number of Portmarnock estates, on the back of a truck.

Sound expert, Fred Walsh, had recorded aircraft noise from a similar distance to the existing runway at Dublin Airport as areas of Portmarnock will lie from the proposed new runway.

The sound was played back as the truck travelled around Portmarnock at a similar decibel level to what UPROAR expects would result from air traffic using the proposed new runway.

‘A free sample of noise’ is what an UPROAR spokesperson said the experiment offered which took place last Saturday between 10am and 2pm.

‘A lot of people simply couldn’t believe the noise – nobody said the noise didn’t bother them,’ the spokesperson said.

The UPROAR spokesperson said the group found suggestions the activity might be illegal to be ironic given that a similar charge has never been levelled against the airlines.

The ‘noise experiment’ was all part of an intensifying campaign by UPROAR against the proposed new runway as Fingal planners prepare to announce their decision on the project’s planning application.

The Dublin Airport Authority’s planning application for the project promises an expansion of its sound insulation programme for homes and public buildings in its planning application but UPROAR has said that aircraft noise is set to increase for Portmarnock residents if the new runway goes ahead.

Mon October 10th 05

Fingal Independent