17/3/2008

Local News in Aldershot

Farnborough airport wins rise in weekend flights

The government has approved plans to double the number of weekend flights at Farn-borough Airport.

The decision means that airport owner and operator TAG Aviation can allow up to 5,000 landings and take-offs on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays — twice the current cap of 2,500 a year.

The decision upholds an appeal by TAG against a June 2006 ruling by Rushmoor Borough Council, which refused planning permission.

TAG can now legally begin operating at twice the previous allowed weekend capacity.

For the rest of this year, a pro-rata calculation will allow the airport to accept a total of 4,200 weekend aircraft movements in 2008.

The government agreed with TAG’s argument that the economic benefits of allowing an expansion of weekend activities outweighs any environmental impact on the surrounding area.

In a joint letter, signed on behalf of Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, the government agreed with the conclusions of planning inspector Ken Smith that the extra flights should be allowed.
 
Mr Smith’s report, written in June last year, followed a public inquiry held in January and April 2007. The publication of the report was delayed until the two government departments could agree on the final outcome. The long-awaited decision sparked a mixture of relief and disapp-ointment among supporters and opponents of the plans.

While aircraft operators welcomed the news, saying it would help to secure hundreds of jobs, many residents are fearful that doubling the number of low-flying private jets coming over their houses will spoil their weekends.

TAG chief executive Brandon O’Reilly was pleased to hear that the appeal had been upheld.

He said: “It means we will be able to satisfy the substantial demand from business aviation aircraft at weekends, thereby making better use of existing infrastructure, which is in accordance with the current government policy on aviation.

“It is important to the community due to the econ-omic benefits that that will generate, which we said was going to be the case during the inquiry.

“Irrespective of this verdict, we take our responsibility to the area very seriously, and will continue to try to mitigate the effects of noise nuisance thr-ough the Farnborough Aerod-rome Consultative Committee and through the development of the quiet flying programme.

“We will now be burying our heads in the inspector’s report to see what it says in detail.”

Geoff Marks, chairman of the Farnborough Airport Residents’ Association (FARA), said people living around the airport would be adversely affected in their leisure time as a result of the decision.

In a statement, Mr Marks said: “We are disappointed that the inspector has not given more weight to the arguments that were presented in favour of the retention of the current limit by FARA and others, including Rushmoor Borough Council.

“It is clear from the public’s response to the weekend flying consultation process, and their contributions to the inquiry, that not only were they concerned about their loss of amenity, but that the approval of TAG’s appeal would be seen as the government giving a green light to an overall increase in the number of movements.

“The secretary of state has noted that in making the decision she has had regard for TAG’s intention to prepare a master plan for the airport, but she has placed no weight upon this. This is of little comfort given that, as I understand it, the appeal procedures would not allow her to do so.

“TAG are well under way with their master plan and no doubt it will be based on a premise of significant growth.

“Much of our case against the weekend increase applies equally to an overall increase. I am hopeful that some of the points made by the inspector in his very detailed report on the weekend issue will help us strengthen that case.”

Peter Moyle, leader of Rushmoor Borough Council, said the authority was disappointed that its original decision had been overruled.

In a statement, Rushmoor said that the council refused planning permission because it considered it would negatively impact on the lives of people living near the airfield, particularly because of increased noise and disturbance at times when they are likely to be home.

The council said it had not been shown that there was overriding economic benefit and pointed out the increase is contrary to a local planning policy, which restricts flying at weekends and bank holidays.

Cllr Moyle said: “However, the decision has now been taken and it appears that the inspector, who managed the inquiry, and the secretaries of state have given careful consideration to the environmental and noise impacts, together with the economic benefits to Rushmoor and the surrounding area.

“Now that the decision has been made, the council will be able to develop its core strategy for the local development framework and engage residents in consultation on the way forward for the future shape of Rushmoor.”

Gerald Howarth, MP for Aldershot, Farnborough, Blackwater and Yateley, is a staunch supporter of TAG. He said the inspector’s report highlighted the airport’s economic benefits to the town and the wider area and was “overall the right decision”.

He said. “Having walked around the residential areas, his observation that the traffic noise generally masks the noise of aircraft movements is interesting. I quite accept that there will be some people who will be disappointed, but they cannot come to any other conclusion that the inspector has made a very careful and thorough investigation.”

First printed in: Aldershot News and Mail