Residents under airport flight paths asked to document their experiences

Residents in Ashbourne, Kilbride, Wotton and Greenogue have been asked to detail how noise from flights using Dublin Airport’s new north runway are affecting them.

Following a public meeting in the Coolquay Lodge last week, at which North Dublin residents were preparing for a planned legal action, Ashbourne councillor, Joe Bonner said that Meath residents affected by the noise need to get involved as well.

"I want to get an accurate picture of who is affected. We need to have the facts and I am asking people to contact me through Facebook."

Among the large crowd who attended last week’s meeting, were a substantial number of residents from Meath who claim to have been impacted by low flying aircraft.

"There were experts there who spoke of how the noise is detrimental to people's health and the message was that unless the people fight it, they will be trodden on," said Cllr Bonner.

"We need to contact all those who are impacted in Meath and then we need to work with the bigger group. We cannot leave it all to the Fingal group," he said.

The meeting had been told that solicitors for the residents’ group have written to the DAA about the flight paths from the new runway warning they could face legal action.

Residents of south east Meath, and particularly Greenogue and Wotton have spoken out recently about noise levels, especially DAA revised flight paths at the end of last month. They claim their homes shake, windows and chimneys rattle, the noise is deafening.

Residents have recorded aircraft flying over their homes at 3,000 feet on a flight radar app. Sometimes they are going overhead every 90 seconds.

Revised flight paths came into effect on 23rd February and instead of seeing an improvement, some residents in Meath have reported a very significant increase in noise pollution and in aircraft fumes.

Residents of The Wotton say the noise has been ongoing since the new runway opened last year and is still continuing despite the recent changes and The Wotton Residents Association has sought a meeting with Meath Co Council about the environmental impact of the new flight paths.

Meath County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Nick Killian said: "It is terrible at the moment, and I cannot imagine what it will be like when the airport gets busier over the summer.”