Westminster committee hears from Belfast residents on aircraft noise from Belfast City Airport
A committee of MPs at Westminster has been hearing from Belfast residents affected by aircraft noise linked to George Best Belfast City Airport. The umbrella residents group, Belfast City Airport Watch (BCAW), was invited to give evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster on 24th October as part of its inquiry into an air transport strategy for Northern Ireland. All three MPs whose constituencies are affected by the noise issue – Naomi Long MP, Alasdair McDonnell MP and Lady Sylvia Hermon MP – sit on the Committee and were present at the meeting. Dr Liz Fawcett, Chair of the BCAW Steering Group, said the group was very pleased with the reception it got from the MPs, and their interest in the issues. BCAW want the regulation of aircraft noise at the non-designated airports to be strengthened. The current proposals in the draft Aviation Policy Framework consultation do not go far enough. The consultation ends on 31st October. There is information on how to respond at Aviation Policy Framework consultation and on the noise section in particular at Noise and other local environmental impacts
Westminster committee hears from local residents on aircraft noise
26th October 2012 (Belfast City Airport Watch)
Belfast City Airport Watch representatives before their meeting with the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee at Westminster. From L to R: Barney Gadd from Stranmillis, Dr Liz Fawcett from Ballynafeigh, and Jenny Simon from Sydenham.
A committee of MPs at Westminster has been hearing from local residents affected by aircraft noise linked to George Best Belfast City Airport.
The umbrella residents group, Belfast City Airport Watch (BCAW), was invited to give evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster [on Wednesday, 24th October] as part of its inquiry into an air transport strategy for Northern Ireland.
All three MPs whose constituencies are affected by the noise issue – Naomi Long MP, Alasdair McDonnell MP and Lady Sylvia Hermon MP – sit on the Committee and were present at the meeting.
Dr Liz Fawcett, Chair of the BCAW Steering Group, said the group was very pleased with the reception it got from the MPs.
“The Committee members were really attentive and clearly interested in the issues we raised,” she said.
“We stressed the need for robust regulation of aircraft noise. The UK government is in the process of producing a strategy designed to tackle this issue, but its current proposals don’t go far enough.
“We hope the Committee will urge the government to strengthen its proposed noise measures.”
In addition to Dr Fawcett, who lives in Ballynafeigh, the Committee also heard from Sydenham resident, Jenny Simon, Barney Gadd of the Old Stranmillis Residents’ Association, and Joe McGlade of the Park Road and District Residents’ Association.
Editor’s notes:
- Belfast City AirportWatch comprises 19 residents’ and community groups across affected areas within east and south Belfast, and north Down, and one trade union branch. It also has approximately 550 individual associate members. For more information on the campaign,
- visit: www.belfastcityairportwatch.co.uk
Draft Aviation Policy Framework consultation:
The current proposals in the draft Aviation Policy Framework consultation do not go far enough. The consultation ends on 31st October. There is information on how to respond at Aviation Policy Framework consultation and on the noise section in particular at Noise and other local environmental impacts