Galway Airport - mega merge

biko

Merged and a slight title change

what_traffic

How can they(County and City Council) spend €1.1m without giving an indication what they are spending it on? Seems the Cllr's were not briefed? Is there a Business plan for this venture?

antoobrien

what_traffic wrote: »

How can they(County and City Council) spend €1.1m without giving an indication what they are spending it on? Seems the Cllr's were not briefed? Is there a Business plan for this venture?

Yup

GCU Flexible Demeanour

what_traffic wrote: »

How can they(County and City Council) spend €1.1m without giving an indication what they are spending it on?

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1105/484710-galway-airport-purchase/

In a sense, we do know what they are spending it on.

proceeds from the sale will be used to pay creditors<...> a "satisfactory arrangement" had been arrived at with the airport's main creditors – two banks and the Department of Transport

So, indirectly, it looks like a case of the taxpayers paying a debt owed to them. Presumably, this is why Galway Chamber of Commerce are welcoming the decision - it's a monkey off their back.

What I don't follow is if this €1.1 million is effectively the same as the BoI loan that hit the headlines last year.

http://galwayindependent.com/20120202/news/boi-seize-funds-from-galway-airport-S2616.html

antoobrien

GCU Flexible Demeanour wrote: »

What I don't follow is if this €1.1 million is effectively the same as the BoI loan that hit the headlines last year.

Also the relative price of agricultural land in the area.

gordongekko

Is the argument here that 1 they paid too much or 2 paid too little?

what_traffic

antoobrien wrote: »

Also the relative price of agricultural land in the area.

Any figure per acre that you have heard recently anto? Your from around those parts right?

antoobrien

what_traffic wrote: »

Any figure per acre that you have heard recently anto? Your from around those parts right?

Between 5k & 10k per acre is the general asking price for agricultural land in co galway.
Edit - there's development land in the area with an a.p. of €15k per acre, so it looks cheap.

mackjark

Read between the lines people, clearly there's one or more person or entity out there interested in the airport. But not interested in taking on the debts.

The councils by buying it are positioning it either to be sold or leased to someone with plans for the airport. The absurdly positive spin put on this by both councils and the head of the Chamber implies something is in hand or at least there is an intention to pursue some plan.

My own view is that it's mostly likely to continue as an airport, a General Aviation airport under a different licence to the current one because frankly it's unlikely there is some multinational giant out there desperate to get their hands on the place nor is there exactly a shortage of empty office space in the city.

There was one juicy rumour that some company which has interests in airports and airlines looking at the place. But it's only a rumour.

It would be a mistake to think it's days as an airport are numbered even if it never has scheduled services again.

GCU Flexible Demeanour

gordongekko wrote: »

Is the argument here that 1 they paid too much or 2 paid too little?

Your question is right on the button. Why would a (purportedly) valuable site be sold for its agricultural value?

I think people are right to feel that a coherent picture of what is happening here hasn't emerged.

mackjark wrote: »

Read between the lines people, clearly there's one or more person or entity out there interested in the airport. But not interested in taking on the debts.

Who? Galway Chamber of Commerce?

what_traffic

IT article on this story
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/transport-and-tourism/galway-airport-site-purchase-criticised-1.1584387

Cosmo Kramer

That article doesn't make it sound like there is any plan to continue using it for aviation purposes. Reading between the lines I would say they're looking at it as a potential edge of city business park.

GekkePrutser

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

That article doesn't make it sound like there is any plan to continue using it for aviation purposes. Reading between the lines I would say they're looking at it as a potential edge of city business park.

As if there aren't enough empty business parks already. Or half-constructed developments. Think of the one in Mervue, or the one above the coach station that's only 2/3 finished. Lots of empty offices near Oranmore too.

Any business wanting to move to Galway can already have their pick, and a lot closer to town as well if they should desire to do so.

GekkePrutser

xflyer wrote: »

No way that's rubbish. Someone is playing games here. It can easily continue as an airfield.

Indeed, Abbeyshrule and many other small airfields across the world are running just fine.

The parachute club seems to have attracted a huge following and they're only the start. There were tens of people there on the weekend, paying hundreds a head. For a GA airport you don't need much in terms of running costs, no ILS or expensive lighting needed.

Edit: Sorry for the double post - this is because of the merge (I posted in 2 different topics)

Hurler on the Ditch

Less Airports = less Co2!

mackjark

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

That article doesn't make it sound like there is any plan to continue using it for aviation purposes. Reading between the lines I would say they're looking at it as a potential edge of city business park.

Just up the road on the site of the old Oranmore airfield is an odd little place laid out as a possible Pharma complex, complete with ponds, a car park and sadly faded signs showing it's possible uses. In a double irony Oranmore is where the airport should have been built because it has the space to build a long runway. Down the road in Briarhill, check out Curleys empty and quiet with it's van quietly rotting in the car park. Take a tour around that business park and count the empty units. It's sad. Carry on to Mervue and you'll pass the Crowne Plaza looking like a post apocalyptic bomb site for at least five years now. Drive through town passing the empty shops, empty offices on the way to Knocknacarra where you can look down into the giant hole beside Dunnes Stores. Around it lies acres of overgrown development land.

The last thing Galway needs is another empty edge of town business park and unless some company out there really needs 115 acres to build their new European headquarters then the most likely use for the airport is.....well as an airport. No commercial flights anymore but the skydiving operation keeps busy with both their aircraft seven days a week judging by how often they drone by. Then there's the flying club. The Air Corps, the Coast Guard. Visitors from far and wide. There is scope for scenic flying, charters, aerial photography, joyriding and flight training.

It doesn't need a staff of 54 for that. It was getting by just fine with 5 staff.

There is no logic in trying to develop it as a business park. If they try that they might as well open it up to boyracers so they can try out their souped up Corsas on the runway.

snubbleste

I think the reason it was bought is because the Councils had first dibs on it and imho to bail out the Chamber of Commerce.
I fully expect some of it to be turned over to social housing or some such.

Storm 10

Go down the road to Claregalway another huge development of empty warehouses and empty offices

gordongekko

Where will the helicopters that land at nuih have to go to refuel now?

notharrypotter

gordongekko wrote: »

Where will the helicopters that land at nuih have to go to refuel now?

Shannon/Athlone/ Knock

dilallio

From Connacht Tribune Facebook Page

Cllr Nuala Nolan This is crazy...it is 15 miles from the City...miles away from motorway....why not buy up cheap NAMA houses to reduce the City and County Housing list..They say for a Business Park...with so many empty..business premises empty around the place.....talk about buying an expensive pup!

One would think that a requirement for a local councillor would be to have a basic grasp of local geography.

Mrs OBumble

dilallio wrote: »

From Connacht Tribune Facebook Page



One would think that a requirement for a local councillor would be to have a basic grasp of local geography.

I believe (no links, but have a strong memory of seeing a comment somewhere) that this is the same councillor who thinks that the city bus services have not changed since her childhood.

galwaycyclist

gordongekko wrote: »

Where will the helicopters that land at nuih have to go to refuel now?

If they are the military air ambulances they can refuel at Renmore barracks.

Works out at roughly 9.5k am acre. That's crazy cheap. Especially when you think of the future plans for Galways next major suburb, Ardaun which will be next door.

Storm 10

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Works out at roughly 9.5k am acre. That's crazy cheap. Especially when you think of the future plans for Galways next major suburb, Ardaun which will be next door.

which will never happen that development is a pipe dream

So were Doughiska and Roscam at one stage.

Iwannahurl

Deleted User wrote: »

So were Doughiska and Roscam at one stage.

Doughiska is a nightmare.

Robbo

I see in today's Advertiser the mayor of the County wants a 25,000 seater all sports stadium on the Airport site, seemingly oblivious to the flaws with such an idea that have been raised with the Bertie Bowl / Maze Prison plans when similar out of town schemes have been floated.

Mrs OBumble

Iwannahurl wrote: »

Doughiska is a nightmare.

That is a load of b*llox.

It had the potential to be a nighmare when it was built without any facilities (and without even finishing the road, ffs).

But, ss I've pointed out in another thread, there is now an extensive range of facilities and amenities, mainly due to extensive community development work from a range of people (they know who they are). Of course the show ain't over yet, but that report is based on data that is a long way out of date, and was being pushed as part of a political / funding campaign.

The bit about unemployment is a particular joke: even a couple of years ago, a surprisingly high proportion of the people in social housing in the area were working. The proximity of the area to the major jobs locations, and the really good public transport, makes it extremely attractive for workers.

If anything, Roscam is potentially more of a problem, though hopefully protected somwhat by its closeness to Doughiska an dthe on-average higher property prices.

mackjark

There will be no housing project. There will be no business park and I had to laugh at that dimwit Carroll suggesting in today's Galway Advertiser that it be turned into a sports stadium. Seriously what planet does he live on? Maybe someone should invite Disney to build Disneyland Galway on the place or maybe build a Formula one track there and hold the Irish Grand Prix. Or maybe a park and ride. Oh wait, they tried that. Stupid suggestions on a post card please to County Hall!

The fact is that most likely it will continue to be used as an airfield until one of these fantasy projects become reality which will probably be sometime next century. That's the only logical use of the place. Of course logic doesn't come into it when dealing with local councillors. There is no rule to stop both the flying club and skydive operation continuing to operate without the airfield licence. Nor is there any rule about visiting aircraft dropping in and buying fuel. In fact there is nothing to stop anyone applying for and getting a private airfield licence rather than the previous commercial licence. Plus this would generate revenue for the councils.

There are a couple of interested parties who want to continue to use the place as an airfield. Hopefully they'll be listened to.