Mayo airport development zone should be about more than aviation

THE Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) at Ireland West Airport needs to be about more than aviation.

Councillor Ger Deere, at an enterprise committee meeting, said he understood the SDZ was linked to aviation, which he found 'crazy'.

It should be open to a lot more, not just linked to aviation businesses, he suggested, which was limiting.

“It has huge potential, the SDZ, but it needs to be opened up to a lot more industries and businesses as well,” said Councillor Deere.

The need for a rail link to the SDZ was also highlighted as being 'critical by Councillor Martin McLoughlin. That was down the road but they needed to plan ahead, he said.

Commenting on a presentation on the west regional enterprise plan, Councillor McLoughlin said the opening of the Western Rail Corridor is critical to job creation and sustainability, and exporters want this vital infrastructure to have a direct route to Europe.

He looks forward to the opening of the line to Claremorris and then on to Sligo.