Study will probe potential for new Midlands airport

A feasibility study is being carried out on the possible provision of a
new airport development on the Offaly/Westmeath border near the village
of Horseleap.

The study, on behalf of Tullamore Chamber of Commerce, is only in the
initial stages and it will be a number of months before its completion.

Letters have been sent by Axis Architects, the firm conducting the
study, to landowners in Newtown, Horseleap, where the proposed
development would be located.

"We are only at the stage of talking to landowners to put forward the
ideas to them and answer any concerns they might have," according to
Patrick Little of Axis Architects, who is also President of Tullamore
Chamber of Commerce.

"We have a meeting arranged with landowners next Friday in Tubber.
Before we talk to any public bodies we need to get residents' opinions,"
he added.

The idea of an airport in Horseleap was first mooted in late 2005 by the
then President of Tullamore Chamber of Commerce, Brian Kenny. At that
time, he suggested the village should initially be the venue for a
heliport, which could, in time, become a full international airport.

However, that idea has now been moved a step forward with the beginning
of the feasibility study, which will examine the costs, viability, scale
and scope of an airport development in the midlands region.

The chamber see an airport as a key infrastructural development for the
region, specifically the three gateway towns.

"Horseleap is an ideal central location to serve the three towns of
Tullamore, Mullingar and Athlone. It is also close to the new
motorway/rail network and it's flat," according to Mr Little.

He added an airport would increase population, business, bring in
tourists and improve the quality of life of people in the midlands area.

"With the motorway opening up, we will only be 45 minutes from Lucan. It
would be easier and a more pleasant experience for many people in
Kildare, and parts of Dublin to get a plane from the midlands rather
than Dublin," Mr Little outlined.