Night flying fuels fresh Manston airport fight
AN INDEPENDENT group set up to advise on the development of Manston airport has said no to more night flights.
Kent International Airport Consultative Committee chairman Paul Twyman told a meeting of Thanet council’s airport working group that while there should be a balance of “economic and environmental interests”, he was against changing current night policy.
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Agreements on night flights cannot be changed until the airport owners make a planning application
An existing section 106 planning agreement restricts flying between 11pm and 7am. Although it expired in 2003 the agreement will remain in effect until a new one is signed by Thanet council and airport owners Infratil.
On February 12 Infratil persuaded Thanet council to hold an emergency meeting requesting a temporary extension of flying times to 6am to 11.30pm in a bid to attract a new airline operator.
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The council was told the reason was so the company could attract British Airways World Cargo which, Infratil said, would create more than 400 jobs. After the council agreed to the changes, BAWC’s move from Stansted Airport was cancelled. Night flights are now supposed to adhere to the original terms.
On Tuesday KIACC vice chairman Nick Cole told working party members that aircraft noise is a problem for residents and raised a question over the whereabouts of noise monitoring equipment.
Mr Twyman said: “On the western take-off route planes should turn at about 1.2 miles to avoid villages but they have not done this.
“We have had a number of excuses over the years and I now think routes need to be clearly defined. We have to have some mechanism to ensure that these routes are kept to.
“In a good airport there should be good noise monitoring and we don’t seem to have mobile noise monitoring.”
KIACC committee member Malcolm Kirkaldie said: “If someone wants to complain about noise or planes not sticking to routes it has to be done within 15 days but Infratil takes an awfully long time and doesn’t have to come back to us in 15 days, 20 days or 30 days.”
Thanet council planning boss Brian White said: “We get separate complaints from residents about noise. Of course there has been and still is duplication of complaints. We are talking to Infratil about sharing a website with the airport.”
Mr Twyman said: “The local authority needs a big stick it can wield at Infratil when they don’t behave themselves. I think there have to be steep or steeper penalties for people flying outside the agreed hours. We must try to build noise reduction into our plans.”
After the meeting airport working group chairman Mike Harrison said: “Infratil has to apply to us for a night-time flying policy which will trigger a six-month consultation process.”
Ramsgate councillor David Green, who was in the audience, said: “It seems to me to be the same old questions and the same old answers. The existing 106 agreement ran out years ago but there is a clause that enables it to continue until another is created. Talking to KIACC was another stage in the process but nothing can happen to address issues until Infratil applies to extend a building, build a new terminal or for an amendment to night flights because the agreement is attached to a planning decision.”
Steve Higgins, of the Stop Manston Expansion Group, said: “The council need to engage with the community before they make any changes to the policy on night flying.”
Comments
by Simon, Ramsgate
Saturday, October 10 2009, 6:06AM
“I for one would sign a Petition in favour of Manston becoming a major airport. I'm fed up with the sandle brigade frusting leaflets at you when walking through Ramsgate saying we must stop Manston.
The runway has been there longer than these winning idiots that had to pass the runway to move here.
How many of these protesters are quite happy to travel out of Gatwick or Heathrow to go on hoilday.
The old saying "Not in my backyard" comes to mind”
by Joan H, Sholden, Deal
Tuesday, September 15 2009, 4:53PM
“I live near a lovely airport, with one of the longest runways and yet 4 times a year I make that rotten journey to Gatwick, with the holdups and traffic congestion. Thanet now has the high speed link to London and it needs the business and the jobs so for pete's sake give us a decent air service and allow us to support our local area.”
by russ, minster
Wednesday, August 26 2009, 10:45AM
“Well said pilot 1, I take it Phil is another retired londoner who has moved down to the area like all the ones in thanet that seem unable to see the 3 longest runway in the country as they drive past it .
Or is it they prefere to live in the squaild condtions that thanet has to endure with no jobs for the young and shops shutting down all over the place, or then again they must be concered about the price of property with all those night flights look at what it has done to house prices round heathrow, gatwick and stanstead really blighted they are.
What other area has 2 major ferry ports, a high speed rail line and a airport but some of the highest unemployment in the country work it out.”
by pilot 1, Ramsgate
Friday, June 12 2009, 8:13AM
“And no doubt all the local nimby's will sign up to it Phil. People like yourself and Higgin's with the stop the manston expansion group are killing any chance this airport has of making a success of itself. What about those of us that are pro Manston where's our voice? I live under the Manston flight path and have done for many years. It really doesn't bother me one bit..get over it. you really are sad people who will ruin this airport and any chance of expansion which this area is desparate for.”
by Phil Rose, Herne Bay
Tuesday, May 26 2009, 10:38PM
“A petition against night flights has just started: "8 Hours of Peace and Quiet" aims to keep the 8 hours between 11pm and 7am free of planes flying overhead. Go to:
tinyurl.com/8hours
to find out more. We need a mountain of signatures in time for the public meeting about night flights on 26th June (7pm, at Manston Airport, in the Passenger Departure Lounge).
Sign up, make a difference - this may be your only chance to be heard.”