Stalled because of planning objection
ST Michael’s Rowing Club stands accused of hindering the proposed seaplane operation in Limerick city this summer.
Emelyn Heaps, managing director of Harbour Flights Limited, is angry that St Michael’s objected to their plans, and warns that the tourism sector could be affected, as a result.
In last week’s edition, the Limerick Post revealed that St Michael’s Rowing Club had appealed city council’s decision to grant permission for a pontoon at Steamboat Quay, citing safety reasons.
Said Mr Heaps: “We offered to meet these guys three times, we have written to them and phoned”.
According to him, the objection lodged with An Bord Pleanala, has delayed the development of a pontoon by at least a further six months.
“I don’t think Limerick will see any tourism this year from the seaplane”.
What frustrates, he added, is that the rowing club has limited use of the river Shannon, because of tidal conditions.
“They can only use the river three hours before and one hour after high tide. That is for four hours out of every 24, that’s 20 hours that they can’t go out.
“Our aircraft would be on that river for three minutes at any given time, and we will run the operation around their rowing club.
“We offered to meet them to make sure our times do not conflict”.
Mr Heaps blames St Michael’s for clouding the issue, using incorrect information.
“In their appeal to An Bord Pleanala, they said that we didn’t have approval from the Limerick harbour master. Foynes Harbour Commission, who granted us permission, controls the river.
“We did everything that we were asked to do by the planners”.
Mr Heaps said that his company wrote to the three rowing clubs that use the river. “St Michael’s never responded, but the other two didn’t have an objection.
“The day we flew the plane into Limerick for our test flight, I don’t think anybody noticed until it was taxiing on the water next to the hotel”.
