20/3/2008
Local News
TAG WINS FLIGHTS BIDRebecca Connop Price reports
MORE planes will fly into Farnborough Airport on weekends and bank holidays after the airport’s operator, TAG, won its planning battle.
The decision, announced by the Government on Friday, comes after a two-and-a-half-year-wrangle which pitted TAG against campaigners worried about the noise and disturbance of the flights.
The airport will now be allowed 5,000 weekend and bank holiday flights per year. The total number of movements per year will remain capped at 28,000.
TAG applied for permission to double the number of flights on weekends in October 2005.
But Rushmoor Borough Council, as the planning authority, refused planning permission because it considered the flights would be a disturbance at times when residents are most likely to be home.
TAG appealed the decision and a public inquiry was held last spring by the Planning Inspectorate, the government agency responsible for planning appeals.
Brian Evans, of Atbara Road, Church Crookham, lives under the airport’s flightpath.
He said he wasn’t at all shocked that the Government gave TAG the green light to increase its flights.
He said: “I’m not at all shocked. I’m just shocked that they had the public inquiry.
“It was wallpaper to placate but it meant nothing.”
Mr Evans lives under TAG’s trial “Quiet Flying Programme” flightpath.
As a result of noise complaints, TAG resolved to use a single flightpath, and the firm has directed all pilots to approach and take off using this path.
The company said the programme, which is currently being trialled, would reduce disturbance to heavily populated areas.
But Mr Evans said the result has been increased noise for the unfortunate people who live under the dedicated flightpath.
He regularly complains to TAG about the noise from overhead aircraft.
As reported in the Star on February 21, campaigners are worried about TAG’s expansion “master plan” – increased flights at weekends is likely just a first step.
Geoff Marks, chairman of the Farnborough Aerodrome Residents Association (FARA), has been leading a group of residents fighting the airport’s expansion plans.
He 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 Council.”
He said it was clear from the inquiry that people saw the approval of TAG’s appeal as the Government giving a green light to an overall increase in the number of movements.
He added: “TAG are well underway with their master plan and it 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.”
Responding to the decision on Friday, Coun Peter Moyle, leader of Rushmoor Council, said: “Clearly we are disappointed that the council’s decision has been overturned. 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.”
A spokesman from TAG Farnborough Airport said the decision was “welcome”.
He said: “This ruling means that Farnborough will be able to satisfy more of the substantial demand from business aviation aircraft at weekends, thereby making better use of existing infrastructure in accordance with government aviation policy.
“Irrespective of this decision, the airport management team takes its responsibility to the surrounding community very seriously and continues to work closely with the Farnborough Airport Consultative Committee to mitigate noise through further development of its Quiet Flying Programme.”
A copy of the decision is available on the Rushmoor Council website, www.rushmoor.gov.uk
First printed in:
Surrey Hants Star
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