By Kate Heaney
CONCERNS over the flight path for emergency helicopters accessing Letterkenny University Hospital may necessitate changes to the €15 million development plans for the new Errigal College school buildings.
Donegal County Council planners have sought further information from the Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) architects requesting they ensure confirmation from both the hospital and any helicopter operators using the hospital’s helipad, that they are satisfied with any proposed changes to current arrangements.
Speaking to the Donegal News this week, CEO of the county’s ETB, Anne McHugh was confident the proposed plans to build a new school on the current school playing fields would go ahead albeit with a possible repositioning of some of the new buildings, to accommodate the flight path, if necessary.
“If something needs to be done or buildings repositioned to allow a clear flight path for the emergency helicopter we are happy the professionals we have engaged will get it all correct. With projects this large sometimes you have to build in a bit of slip time. Hopefully things can move ahead as quickly as possible but we need to be sure about everything,” Ms McHugh said.
The CEO acknowledged that planners have also sought further information regarding potential flooding dangers below the school site potentially affecting the hospital and many other properties lower down, as well as any potential threat to the Special Area of Conservation SAC, that is Lough Swilly.
MORE ON THIS STORY IN TODAY’S DONEGAL NEWS…
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