Airport bill to hit rates
Ratepayers in Derry could be facing a rise in their rates bill next year to cover the cost of improvement work carried out at City of Derry Airport which amounted to almost £20 million.
It has emerged that safety works carried out at the Derry City Council owned facility have cost 19m, and between 4m and 5m has been paid by the Council. The rest of the costs were met by the British and Irish governments.
Deputy Town Clerk John Meehan said the costs are likely to be reflected in next year's rates estimates but added it is too early to tell how much they will add to the rates bill locally.
"That is what the City Treasurer is now working on. We have just begun the rates estimates period. There will be significant challenges on the capital front but it will be up to members to decide that," he said.
The preliminary rates estimate for next year is likely to be made public early in the New Year.
The improvement work was carried out after the airport's operating licence was temporarily suspended by the Civil Aviation Authority in May 2007 on safety grounds.
It is understood that the work included the removal of obstacles, upgrades of navigational aids and runway edge lighting, extensions to the runway apron and other improvements.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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