17/3/2008

Local News in Aldershot

Operator welcomes weekend flights decision but campaigners angry

Airport operators and businesses have welcomed the doubling of weekend flights at Farnborough Airport.

The  government has allowed TAG Aviation can allow up to 5,000 landings and take-offs on Saturdays and 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 disappointment among sup-porters and opponents of the plans.

Mixed reaction

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.

Speaking to the Mail, TAG chief executive Brandon O’Reilly said he was yet to read the report, but was pleased to hear that the appeal had been upheld.

He said: “I welcome the decision by the secretaries of state for Transport and Communities and Local Government.

“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 also important to the community locally due to the economic 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 local area very seriously, and will continue to try to mitigate the effects of noise nuisance through the Farnborough Aerodrome 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 that 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 naturally 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.”

'Jobs secured'

Dave Edwards, general manager of Gama Aviation, a Farnborough-based private jet charter company, said the decision would help to secure 150 jobs in the area.

“We are very pleased,” Mr Edwards said on Friday. “The decision has literally arrived on my desk this morning. I haven’t yet got into the detail, but in general we are delighted that the decision has finally been made.

“It makes it easier for us to plan for our future at Farnborough, and that will apply for all companies here. It has always been a restriction, even as a Farnborough based-operator, over the past couple of years.

“It was certainly beginning to impact on our operations here at our base, which is a significant employer in the area.”

The company, which has recently expanded into North America, had been considering moving its operation along with 150 jobs to another area, Mr Edwards said.

“Because of the delays, we have been looking at putting in place contingency plans since October time.

“Since we were looking at other options for weekends, we started to wonder if we should look at other options for the rest of the time. This decision takes that pressure off.”
Farnborough was building a growing reputation abroad as the best business aviation centre in Europe, he said.

“This is a great airport to be at,” Mr Edwards said. “It is the best in Europe, and people in the US all know the facility at Farnborough and recognise it as one of the best in the world. It would have been a shame if the government had gone the other way, which would have affected our long-term plans.”

First printed in: The News and Mail Series

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