Some useful dates
2019
January 2019
8th January – start of a Heathrow consultation on airspace change. Airspace and Future Operations Consultation. Ends 4th March. Details
10th January. End of Gatwick consultation on its plans to use its emergency runway as a 2nd runway. Details
Tues 15th January. pre-Trial Court hearing at the High Courts in the Strand.
DfT Aviation Green Paper consultation on-going. https://aviationstrategy.campaign.gov.uk/
February 2019
March 2019
11th-23rd March 2019 – High Court hearings of the 5 legal challenges. Details
End of March – Report by the Committee on Climate Change to the government. Details
April 2019
11th April. End of airspace change part of the DfT aviation green paper consultation.
May 2019
2nd May – the Committee on Climate Change publishes its advice to government on UK long term climate targets (details), and also on aviation carbon Details (hence the extension of the Aviation Strategy consultation to the 20th June).
June 2019
18th June: Start of Heathrow consultation. Ends 13th September.
20th June: End of the DfT consultation on the Aviation Strategy green paper.
On December 17th the Government published its Aviation Green Paper. This is their proposal for the DfT’s new Aviation Strategy which it wants to finalise and release in the second half of 2019. This will then be UK aviation policy.
The Green Paper sets out proposals for UK aviation policy until 2050.
The consultation started on 17th December, and ends on 11th April 2019
Full paper at: https://aviationstrategy.campaign.gov.uk
Details of how to respond at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/aviation-2050-the-future-of-uk-aviation
There’s also a NATS paper on the new type of flight paths being introduced: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachme nt_data/file/763085/nats-caa-feasibility-airspace-modernisation.pdf
And a CAA paper on past and future noise levels: https://www.caa.co.uk/News/New-Airspace-Modernisation-Strategy-launched-tooverhaul-UK-airspace/
July 2019
August 2019
September 2019
13th Sept. End of Heathrow consultation (start 18th June)
13th Sept. End of Environmental Audit Committee call for evidence on environmental impact of travel and tourism. Details
26th Sept. End of DfT call for evidence on carbon offsetting of travel. Details
October 2019
16th: Start of Luton airport consultation on its expansion – ends 16th December. Details and How to respond etc, from LADACAN
17th: Solidarity Rally for Appeals on Heathrow Legal Challenges – Thursday 17th October – 8.45am
The No 3rd Runway Coalition are organising a solidarity rally again outside the Court. The details are as follows:
Where? Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, Holborn, London WC2A 2LL
The hearing will be live streamed on the judiciary’s YouTube channel
November
12 – 14th. Stop Stansted Expansion hearing at the High Court. Details
December
16th: End of Luton airport consultation on expansion – . Details from Luton and How to respond etc, from LADACAN
2020
January 2020
Unknown date: Judgement expected from the Appeal Court on the legal challenges by councils, Greenpeace, FoE, Plan B etc against government approval of Airports NPS (which is Heathrow expansion)
February 2020
28th February. End of CAA Economic regulation of Heathrow: early costs of capacity expansion consultation
“This consultation document provides further information on costs Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) expects to incur in advance of obtaining a Development Consent Order under the Planning Act 2008 for the expansion of Heathrow airport.
“It outlines the approach to spending on these early costs that we consider is in the best interest of consumers and the regulatory arrangements that should apply to this spending.”
March 2020
4th March 2020. End of CAA Minimum Requirements for Noise Modelling Consultation
“Up until now, it has been the responsibility of each airport to decide on the level of sophistication of noise modelling appropriate for its circumstances.
“The CAA now believes that it is appropriate to specify the minimum acceptable level of sophistication of noise modelling required for us to carry out our duties, to provide clarity to sponsors and stakeholders about the methodology they should use and therefore reduce ambiguity, and to provide consistency across different groups of airports. ”
https://consultations.caa.co.uk/policy-development/minimum-requirements-for-noise-modelling/
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5th March 2020 End of CAA consultation on Economic regulation of Heathrow Airport Limited: further consultation on regulatory framework and financial issues
“This consultation document provides further information on our approach to developing the regulatory framework for Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) to support the efficient delivery of capacity expansion at Heathrow airport.
“It outlines and consults on our approach to incentives for efficiency, allowed returns and other financial issues.”
And older dates:
The proposed timeline for a 3rd Heathrow runway
Once voted through, the NPS is then deemed to be “designated” (ie. comes into force) by the Transport Secretary. Heathrow is able to begin the formal process of seeking planning permission, which includes further consultation with local communities. That includes having obtained permission to compulsorily purchase properties for demolition.
The DfT’s Caroline Low said: “In a written statement to Parliament on 26th June, the Transport Secretary confirmed that he has designated the NPS, meaning plans for a new runway at Heathrow can move to the next stage of planning. Heathrow will now bring forward detailed proposals for planning consent, for submission to the Planning Inspectorate. As part of this, there will be further consultations with stakeholders and local communities on the details of the scheme design, the associated compensation and mitigation packages and any changes to airspace.”
Any Judicial Reviews had to follow within a six-week period after the approval of the final NPS and could hold up proceedings.
As the runway is considered to be a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) through the Planning Act 2008, Heathrow has to submit a development consent order (DCO) to the planning inspectorate. (It is not a normal planning application, via the local authority – but it is considered in relation to the NPS). Heathrow also has to do some pre-application consultation events, before the DCO stage. There would then be a planning inquiry and examination (taking – the DfT hopes – at most 6 months).
Heathrow will be required to complete a number of environmental assessments to support its application for development consent. These include an Environmental Impact Assessment, an Environmental Statement, a Statement on Compliance with the Habitats Directive and a Flood Risk Assessment.
The planning inspector then submits his report to the Secretary of State (within three months); and the Secretary of State considers the report and announces a decision (within 3 months).
The DfT expects the runway planning process to take perhaps 3 years, 2018 – 2021 or 2022. The DfT hope the runway would be operational by some time after 2025 or the late 2020s.
2025 – late 2020’s
New runway operational
Assuming the planning and construction process runs in line with the timetable set out by Heathrow, the new runway is expected to be operational between 2025 and late 2020’s.
and it says:
Putting commitments on a legal basis
Communities will want to ensure that Heathrow is held to the promises it has made. There are a number of commitments that have been made by the airport operator that could become planning obligations, such as a ban on scheduled night flights and compliance with noise targets.
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The London Airspace Management Programme (LAMP) which will redesign the whole of the London Terminal Airspace using Performance Based Navigation will be delivered in phases between 2015/16 and 2019.
The FAS (Future Airspace Strategy) will probably be consulted on in 2022 and finalised in 2024.
2018 dates
January 2018
5th January. End of CAA consultation on aircraft noise. See http://www.airportwatch.org.uk/2017/11/caa-invite-anyone-affected-by-aircraft-noise-to-complete-their-survey-ends-5th-january-2018/
17th January 2018. Start of two Heathrow consultations, for a 10 week period. Details http://www.airportwatch.org.uk/?p=36121
15th January 2018. Transport Committee hearing on Heathrow (Airports NPS) Details Council leaders, Cait Hewitt from AEF, Stephen Clark from the No3rd Runway Coalition etc.
24th January 2018. Heathrow APPG session on Heathrow.
24th January 2018. Westminster Hall debate on Heathrow and its current consultation. Debate secured by Vince Cable MP Details
February 2018
Monday 5th February. 2nd Transport Select Committee hearing on Heathrow (Airports NPS) Transport Committee website on Heathrow
Weds 7th February 2018. 3rd Transport Select Committee hearing on Heathrow (Airports NPS)
Tues 20th February 2018. 4th Transport Select Committee hearing on Heathrow (Airports NPS) with airlines and the CAA Details
Weds 28th Feb. Hillingdon Council Leader Ray Puddifoot will be the guest speaker at the first meeting, which will take place at St Mary’s Church Hall in Harmondsworth from 8-9.30pm. The meeting has been arranged by the Harmondsworth and Sipson Resident’s Association (HASRA) with SHE (Stop Heathrow Expansion) and is aimed at residents from the villages – including Longford, which would be totally destroyed if the third runway development went ahead. Details
March 2018
Thursday 1st March 2018 Heathrow Public Meeting at 7pm – Community Church, Werter Road, Putney. Justine is holding a joint public meeting with the Richmond Park MP, Zac Goldsmith, on Heathrow Airport’s consultation and its latest plans for expansion. The Leader of Wandsworth Council, Councillor Ravi Govindia will also speak at the meeting. Details
Friday 2nd March 2018. John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, will be the guest speaker at the meeting at Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre from 7.30pm-9pm. Everyone is welcome and it’s a chance to ask questions before the Heathrow Consultation closes at the end of March. West Drayton would feel some of the harshest impacts of a third runway, with much busier local roads, higher air pollution and not to mention the level of disruption during construction. This meeting with be a chance to discuss these impacts. Details
23rd March. Report by the Transport Select Committee on the draft Airports NPS Link
28th March 2018. End of Heathrow consultations, that started on 17th January.
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April 2018
May 2018
June 2018
7th June: A parliamentary debate on the Commons Transport Select Committee report on the draft Airports National Policy Statement (NPS) – ie. the plans for a 3rd Heathrow runway – has been scheduled for Thursday 7th June at 1.30pm in Westminster Hall
https://calendar.parliament.uk/calendar/…/All/2018/6/7/Daily …
There is normally, but does not have to be, a debate on the report of a Select Committee.
The Transport Committee, chaired by Lilian Greenwood, produced their report on the draft NPS on 23rd March. While it supported the principle of building another runway, the committee insisted there should be a range of strict conditions that would have to be met.
The government will, in due course, respond to the Transport Committee’s report. However, this may not happen until there is a vote by Parliament on the draft NPS. The government is aware that there are numerous serious problems with the Heathrow runway plans, and that meeting the conditions proposed by the Transport Committee would be very difficult.
More on the Committee’s report at link
Parliament voted in favour of the 3rd runway plan:
Monday 25th June. Short 4 hour debate in Parliament on the Airports National Policy Statement (NPS), and Vote. Parliament voted in favour of the 3rd runway (415 against, 119 in favour, a majority of 296). Details of how each MP voted here More on the story here
July 2018
Party conference season:
TUC conference – 10th until 13th September
Lib Dem Party Conference – 16th until 19th September
Labour Party Conference – 24th until 27th September
Conservative Party Conference – 1st until 4th October
SNP Party conference – 6th until 9th October
October 2018.
18th October. Start of Gatwick consultation on its master plan, to use its emergency runway as a 2nd runway. Details.
December 2018
Start of consultation on Government’s Aviation Strategy, for 3 – 4 months. Expected mid December. That will then be followed by it becoming an Aviation White Paper by perhaps mid 2019.
For reference, dates in 2017
2017
January 2017
19th – 20th January – Hearing in the High Court in London about the legal challenge brought by 4 councils and Greenpeace on the DfT backing for Heathrow 3rd runway. Ruling at an unknown date. Details
20th January – second reading of Tania Mathias’ 10 Minute Rule Bill, to get aircraft noise made a statutory nuisance, is on 20th January. The video of the debate in Parliament where Tania Mathias called for the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to be amended to make noise caused by aircraft a statutory nuisance received it first https://youtu.be/PgXtYadPStw. The bill is unlikely to become law but it is an excellent way of raising the special treatment aircraft noise gets.
25th January – end of NICE consultation on outdoor air quality and health. Link
26th January – start of the Commons Transport Select Committee inquiry into airspace management and modernisation Details
30th January – first meeting of new group against Heathrow 3rd runway, in Hammersmith and Fulham. Details
End January – or early February – Publication by the DfT of the draft National Policy Statement (NPS) on Heathrow. Expected 4 months consultation
February 2017
2nd February – Publication by the DfT of the draft “Airports National Policy Statement: new runway capacity and infrastructure at airports in the South East of England”. ie. on Heathrow runway. 16 week consultation Ends 25th May 2017. Consultation document
2nd February – Publication by the DfT of their Airspace Policy consultation. Ends 25th May 2017. Details
Thursday 9th February 7.30pm – Meeting on Night Flight Consultation. Teddington Action Group. Sugden Hall, Station Road, Teddington (Next door to Christ Church)
28th February 2017 – Night Flights consultation ends Details
For details of the DfT consultation events on the National Policy Statement on the Heathrow runway, see below.
For details of consultation events held by the DfT (where they promote the runway to the public, and have little information on any negative impacts) see here for dates, times and venues. There are 20 events between 13th Feb and 15th March in areas close to Heathrow, and 13 events across the country.
March 2017
24th March – deadline to submit evidence to Transport Committee inquiry into the Airports NPS. Details
28th March – air pollution meeting in Richmond. 7pm TW9 4DU
31st March – deadline to submit evidence to Transport Committee inquiry into airspace management and modernisation. Details
31st March – meeting in Englefield Green with Philip Hammond (the Chancellor) on Heathrow. Details.
April 2017
3rd April – Grow Heathrow in court, for possible eviction from their premises. Support outside the High Court in The Strand, WC2A 2LL 9 – 11am. Details
24th April – The High Court has ordered the Government to publish a draft new clean air plan to tackle NO2 by 24 April, with a final plan by 31 July.
28th April – PUBLIC MEETING on the draft NPS. FRI 28TH APRIL. Teddington Baptist Church 7.30pm. TAG and MP Tania Mathias will provide practical steps in responding to the current Gov proposals.
May 2017
12th May – deadline for submission of evidence to the EFRA (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Committee for the joint inquiry by 4 committees (EFRA, Transport, Health and EAC) into “Improving air quality.” Details
25th May – end of DfT consultation on “Airports National Policy Statement: new runway capacity and infrastructure at airports in the South East of England”. ie. on Heathrow runway. 16 week consultation Ends 25th May 2017. Consultation document
25th May – Publication by the DfT of their Airspace Policy consultation. Ends 25th May 2017. Details
Purdah period for General Elecction begins – 21st April
Dissolution of Parliament – 3rd May
Local Elections – 4th May
Party Manifestos expected to be published – Week commencing 8th May
The election means that any current inquiries not completed (such as the Transport Committee one on the draft NPS) have been paused. It will be up to the members of the new Transport Select Committee if they wish to pick up this inquiry and continue with it.
June 2017
15th June – end of DEFRA consultation on draft plan to reduce NO2 air pollution. Consultation document here. Other DEFRA documents here. Online response form here.
30th June – end of CAA consultation on draft airspace design guidance. link
General Election and some related dates in relation to the new parliament
General Election – 8th June
1st possible date of new Parliament – 14th June
1st possible date of State Opening – 21st June
Possible date for ballots of election of Select Committee Chairs – 13th July
Summer Recess – 20th July
After a General Election, every All Party Parliamentary Group needs to hold an AGM to formally reconstitute the Group.
July 2017
31st July – The High Court has ordered the Government to publish a draft new clean air plan to tackle NO2 by 24 April, with a final plan by 31 July.
More aviation consultations later in the year:
Chris Grayling said (letter to EAC on 9th January) that: “We have begun work on an Aviation Strategy to replace the 2013 Aviation Policy Framework and this will include a more detailed consideration of available policy measures to address the climate change impacts of aviation. We look forward to publishing a series of green papers this year as part of this process.”
August 2017
September 2017
October 2017
Parliament Returns from Summer Recess – 5th September
Parliament in Recess for conferences – 15th September
Party conferences
Parliament Returns – 10th October
November 2017
30th November. End of period to submit evidence to the Transport Committee
December 2017
4th December. Oral evidence session by the Transport Select Committee. Transport Committee will begin its inquiry into the Airports NPS next Monday, 4 December, at 4.45pm.
Details at https://www.facebook.com/Airport-Watch-1005521502811846/
https://calendar.parliament.uk/calendar/Commons/All/2017/12/4/Daily
Watch on Parliament TV at http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/6c2ec677-57d8-4ec3-b70f-87c44548a9b5
18th December. Oral evidence session by the Transport Select Committee. As above.
19th December. End of the DfT’s second consultation on the NPS.
For reference, dates in 2016
January 2016
Tues 12th January: HACAN’s Noise and Health Report launch in Parliament
Monday 18th January: – start of trial of 13 Plane Stupid activists who invaded the northern Heathrow runway on 13th July 2015. Due to last perhaps two weeks. At Willesden Magistrates court. Details.
28th January: Publication of the independent review of changes in 2014 of Gatwick arrivals flight paths, by Bo Redeborn and Graham Lake.
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February 2016
11th Feb: Parliament rises
19th Feb. End of CAA consultation on its 5 year strategic plan. Details And guidance from TAG (Teddington Action Group) on how to fill in the online response form.
22nd Feb. Parliament returns
22nd Feb. Protest by CHATR in Chiswick
Feb 23rd – Two big aviation conferences are being held in London: The Air Transport Conference, 2016; and The Global Aviation Development Summit.
Weds 24th Feb – the “Heathrow 13” who occupied the end of Heathrow’s northern runway in July 15th, are to be sentenced. They may get up to 3 months in prison. 9am protest outside Willesden Magistrates Court. 448 High Road, Willesden, London NW10 2DZ. (Nearest tube is Neasden, on the Jubilee line). Details.
Feb – Heathrow and Enterprise Nation do a survey about impact of Heathrow 3rd runway on SMEs.
March 2016
Fri 11th March. 9am the three activists who blocked Heathrow’s Tunnel are due to appear in Willesden Magistrates Court.
14th March: Start of Scottish Government’s consultation on changing APD. Ends 3rd June. Details
15th March. Start of public inquiry into appeal by London City airport against refusal by the Mayor of London, of their airport expansion plan. Link
15th March: Start of CAA consultation on airspace change process Details
16th March: Heathrow ends 6 month trial of 3.2 degree landings. Details
16th March: Budget
24th March: Parliament rises
End of March (date?) Gatwick airport responds to the Arrivals Review.
April 2016
Tues 5TH APRIL, 8PM Public meeting arranged by Stop Heathrow Expansion – CRANE COMMUNITY CENTRE, FULLER WAY, HAYES UB3 4LW (guest speakers include John McDonnell MP) Link
11th April: Parliament resumes
12 – 13th April: Transport Times Event. “UK Transport Infrastructure Summit.” Keynote speaker Lord Adonis of National Infrastructure Commission. Stewart Wingate and John Holland-Kaye speaking, and also Darren Caplan of the AOA. Details
Tues 19th April. 9am. Trail of the three who, in November 2015, blocked the main inbound tunnel leading to Heathrow airport. At Uxbridge Magistrates Court, Harefield Road, UB8 1 Uxbridge. Details
Wednesday 20 April 2016. 9.30 am – 11.00 am. Westminster Hall debate. “Effect of aircraft noise on local communities” – Tom Tugendhat (MP for Tunbridge, Edenbridge and Malling) Details
Thurs 21ST APRIL, 8PM – Public meeting arranged by Stop Heathrow Expansion HAYES AND HARLINGTON COMMUNITY CENTRE, ALBERT ROAD, HAYES UB3 4HR (guest speakers include John McDonnell MP) Link
April – date unknown – report by Heathrow and Enterprise Nation on impact of Heathrow 3rd runway on SMEs.
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May 2016
Thurs 5th May: London Mayoral Election (and some others across the UK)
Sunday 8th May: Going Backwards on Climate Change – march (backwards) down Whitehall, to mark the first anniversary of the Conservative government, which has gone backwards on many policies relating to climate. Building a new runway being one of those. Details It is anticipated that there will be an aviation presence at the march.
16th May: End of Gatwick consultation on the reply by Gatwick airport on 31st March to the Arrivals Review by Bo Redeborn and Graham Lake. Details
Weds 18th May: Queen’s Speech
18th May: Heathrow Community Noise Forum
19th May: Heathrow Noise Forum
Thurs 19th May: “Grow Heathrow” are under threat of eviction. Lewdown Holdings Limited (who own most of the land Grow Heathrow is on) are attempting to get a possession order
Supporters gathering from 9:00am outside Uxbridge County Court. This is not the Uxbridge court where Plane Stupid appeared. Address: 501 Uxbridge Road, Hayes, UB4 8HL.
Thurs 26TH MAY, 8PM – Public meeting arranged by Stop Heathrow Expansion ST MATTHEWS CHURCH, HIGH STREET, YIEWSLEY UB7 7QH (guest speakers including John McDonnell MP). Link
May – Route 4 for take-offs from Gatwick, towards the west and turning northwards, to be changed back to its original route in the NPR. Details
30th May: End of European consultation on state aid to airports and ports. Details
Bank Holiday Monday 30th May. Celebrate Heathrow’s 70th birthday, in Harmondsworth. Details
31st May. Heathrow is officially 70 years old.
June 2016
3rd June: End of Scottish Government consultations on changing Air Passenger Duty Details
7th June: Heathrow holds a “Business Summit” for SMEs in Manchester, to attract companies to bid for work on its (hoped for) 3rd runway. Details
June 13, 2016: EU regulation on airport noise takes effect
15th June: End of CAA consultation on airspace change process Details
19th or 26 th June. Referendum in France about proposed new Nantes airport at Notre-Dame-des-Landes. Details
23rd June: EU referendum
July 2016
Monday 4th July: Seminar on Aircraft Noise and Mental Health. 3.00 – 4:30pm; Room Q in Portcullis House, Westminster. Organised by Hacan and AEF. Details Chair: Dr Tania Mathias MP
?Around 18th July?? Patrick McLoughlin is due to make a statement to Parliament on the government’s decision on a new runway. Should be at least a few days before Parliament rises, (ie. several days before 21st) to give MPs etc time to question etc. Or it could be in the 10 days Parliament is working 5th to 15th September.
21st July: Parliament rises for the summer recess.
Summer 2016
The Department for Transport will hold a formal consultation on changes to the noise elements of the Aviation Policy Framework, and the principles behind changes to flight paths – some time in /after summer 2016, “to coincide with a further announcement on runway capacity in the south east” ie. after a runway decision. In 2nd half of 2016.
August 2016
September 2016
5th September – Parliament returns, till 15th when the Party Conference season starts. (If no runway decision has been announced in July by the government, it is just possible it could be during this period. But unlikely). [It was not]
12th Sept: End of consultation by Edinburgh airport on changes to flight paths (first stage). Details
19th September: extended deadline for Edinburgh airport consultation on airspace change and flight paths. Details. and Details
September 2016: ICAO Assembly to come back on global MBM (Market Based Measure) to reduce global aviation carbon emissions
?around 7th September Parliament returns from recess
29th September: Heathrow holds a “Business Summit” for SMEs in Leeds, to attract companies to bid for work on its (hoped for) 3rd runway. Details
For reference, dates in 2015
2015
January 2015
Transfer of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports from Heathrow Airport Holdings to Ferrovial and Macquarie. (Sale agreed in October 204).
19th – meeting by West Sussex County Council to decide view on Gatwick runway
20th – Public meetings by West Windsor Residents Assn. about Heathrow. Details
Around 20th – Horsham Council to decide on view on Gatwick runway
26th – debate by Crawley Council on its view on a Gatwick runway Details
February 2015
3rd – end of Airports Commission consultation. Details
3rd – 6pm. At Main Hall, Old Town Stratford, 29 Broadway, London E15 4BQ
Newham Council to hear City Airport expansion application to expand.Planning Officers recommend granting the planning application both for the hotel and the infrastructure, can be found at http://mgov.newham.gov.uk/ieAgenda.aspx?M=10678. Details
Sat 28th – Transition Heathrow’s 5th birthday party. Details
March 2015
Tues 3rd March – Heathrow Rally Details
Sat 7th March – Climate March in London. Details
13trh March: End of Biggin Hill (Bromley) consultation on extending operating hours. Details
April 2015
29th April – International Noise Awareness day. Protest in Berlin
May 2015
Thurs May 7th – General Election (and some local elections)
Some time after the election, Airports Commission announces its recommendation on new runway to the new government. Date unknown.
June 2015
Airports Commission likely to make its recommendation by the end of the month, before Sir Howard goes to RBS. Date unknown.
10th June: End of EU consultation on Aviation package for improving the competitiveness of the EU Aviation sector. Started in March. Details.
30th June: Meeting Carbon Budgets: 2015 Progress Report to Parliament by the Committee on Climate Change. This is the CCC’s seventh statutory report to Parliament on progress towards meeting carbon budgets. In it we will consider the latest data on emissions and their drivers. http://www.theccc.org.uk/media-centre/coming-up/
July 2015
6-7th July: Runways UK conference in London, to discuss the Airports Commission recommendation (which they presume will have been made). Details
11 – 12th July. Annual 2 day protest at Notre Dame des Landes, against the proposed new airport for Nantes.
August 2015
September 2015
1st September: start of Stansted consultation on narrowed flight paths. Ends 27th November. Details.
3rd September: Deadline for submission to the Environmental Audit Committee. Link
8th September: Deadline for submissions to the government consultation on the devolution of APD, and its reduction, to Scotland. Link
Saturday 12th September: Meeting on the problem of UK carbon emissions and a new runway, organised by the Green Party. No New Runways. Not Heathrow, Not Gatwick, Not any other runway either. Details.
Monday 14th September: Heathrow start 6 month trial of 3.2 degree landings. Ends 16th March 2016. Details
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October 2015
Saturday 10th October: 11am Rally in Parliament Square against Heathrow 3rd runway. Details to be announced.
Monday 12th October. End of Commons Transport Committee surface transport to airports inquiry. Details
November 2015
6th November. End of DEFRA consultation on NO2 and air quality. Details
Announcement, with statement of intent, by government on the Airports Commission’s recommendation of a 3rd Heathrow runway. There may be a public consultation after it. No details yet known.
Thursday 26th November: A Peoples Question Time held in Hillingdon. 7 – 9 pm. A chance to question the Mayor & London Assembly. Details
27th November: end of Stansted consultation on narrowed flight paths. Details
28th November: Greg Clark (MP for Tunbridge Wells) will be chairing a public meeting with the team leading Gatwick’s independent review at 10am in the Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells. Details Booking beforehand necessary.
December 2015
24th December: Edinburgh flight path trial due to end (started in June) if it does not end earlier. Details.
31st December 2015 The CCC will publish its recommendations for 5th carbon budget, covering the period 2028-32, as required by Climate Change Act. This budget covers the symbolically important year of 2030 by which time we need to be very firmly on the path to the agreed 2050 target. The Government will propose legislation for the 5th budget in Summer 2016. http://www.theccc.org.uk/ http://www.theccc.org.uk/media-centre/coming-up/
Prestwick: The final version of the Glasgow Prestwick Airport Master Plan will be published at some time, but it is very much delayed. Draft Master Plan was in 2008.
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4th July 2016: Seminar on Aircraft Noise and Mental Health
3.00 – 4:30pm; Room Q in Portcullis House, Westminster*
Chair: Dr Tania Mathias MP
Speakers:
Dirk Schreckenberg, Senior Researcher, Centre for applied psychology, environmental and social science in Hagen, Germany, will explain the key findings of the NORAH study on noise and mental health
Chris Keady will talk about the impact on his mental health of living under the Heathrow flight paths and suggest practical solutions
Matt Gorman, Sustainability Director at Heathrow Airport, will outline the steps Heathrow is taking to provide respite from aicraft noise
There will be a good period of time for questions and discussion
*Please allow about 15 minutes to get through security
It is being staged by the Aviation Environment Federation* and HACAN*. It is a follow-up to a report published in January 2016 on Aircraft Noise and Health – http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Aircraft-Noise-and-Public-Health-the-evidence-is-loud-and-clear-final-reportONLINE.pdf.
There is growing concern about the impact on mental health of aircraft noise. However, there is comparatively little research on the topic. We are therefore delighted that the keynote speaker will be Dirk Schreckenberg, one of the authors of the NORAH Study, a recent German study which included ground-breaking work on mental health and noise http://www.laermstudie.de/en/
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Bank Holiday Monday 30th May 2016: ‘Celebrate’ Heathrow’s 70th Birthday
12 noon. High St Harmondsworth* – outside the historic Five Bells Pub, UB7 0AQ.
- 70 ‘No 3rd Runway’ birthday balloons will be released.
- There will be music, a few speeches, refreshments and a chance to walk part of the route of the proposed new runway.
- And everybody is encouraged to bring a birthday present for Heathrow which will be kept safe overnight and delivered to them on their official birthday the next day.
- We are hoping this will be a fun Bank Holiday event but with a serious purpose, the day before Heathrow’s official birthday. It is also probably the last chance to have an event for a while as the news in June and July is likely to be dominated by the referendum. Heathrow Airport knows that also and is expecting its 70th birthday to generate a lot of media coverage. It means we can interest the media in this event. If you have nothing planned for the Bank holiday, you are encouraged to join us as the more people who attend, the more powerful the signal that there is considerable opposition to a 3rd runway.
* There is some parking available in the area. The U3 and 350 buses stop just a short walk away.
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Regular dates:
CAA release provisional statistics for the previous month for UK airports around 15th of each month.
Heathrow Ltd (used to be called BAA) produce the previous month’s figures for their UK airports, (some time approx between 10th and 15th of each month).
IATA produce previous month’s figures for the global aviation industry around the 27th of each month.
2014
For reference, dates in 2014
January 2014
16th January: start of Airports Commission’s consultation (end date not known) on their draft Appraisal Framework, for the impacts of schemes will be appraised and how scheme designs should be developed.
21st January. End of NATS consultation on airspace around Gatwick, London City airport, Southend and Biggin Hill. Details
21st January: end of NATS consultation on airspace around Gatwick, London City airport, Southend and Biggin Hill. Details
January 2014: Vote in Environment Committee on the draft report by the European Parliament on aviation in the ETS http://www.airportwatch.org.uk/?p=18483
February 2014
4th February – start of local Heathrow “consultation” on its northwest runway option Details and earlier Details
14th February – deadline for Airports Commission consultation on four options in the inner Thames Estuary airport. Details
18 – 20th – hearing about judicial review challenge to Carlisle City Council decision to allow Stobart to develop Carlisle airport details
22nd Feb – Manifestation at Notre Dame des Landes, Nantes. Details
March 2014
16th March – end of Heathrow “consultation” on northwest runway
24th March – Launch of Heathrow 3rd runway photo competition. Details at www.no-ifs-no-buts.com
28th March: Publication of finalised “Appraisal Framework” by the Airports Commission.
25-29 March 2014 The IPCC’s (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s) Fifth Assessment Report WG II: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability will be published Details ttp://www.ipcc.ch/
End of March: Goverment will give its response to the Airports Commission Interim Report (perhaps with a comment on recommendation of a new independent noise authority, probably only in an advisory capacity.
31st March: 2nd IPPC report on impacts of climate change. Summary for Policymakers of the second part of the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report Details.
March or April – DfT has said it will respond to the Airports Commission’s short-term suggestions
Key dates for the aviation ETS proposal
3 March: Environment Council
4 March: Second Trilogue
14 March: Transport Council
31 March: Aviation ETS 2013 reporting deadline
2-3 and 14-17 April: European Parliament plenary sessions – The deadline for a decision
April 2014
2nd April: The first phase of NATS public consultation on the re-design of London Airspace completed on 21 January; a report will be published on 2nd April at http://www.londonairspaceconsultation.co.uk/.
4th April (to 16th May) – Gatwick airport will start a consultation on 3 runway options. [Only option to say No to an new runway is buried in section D] Link
7 – 11 and 13 April 2014 The IPCC’s (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s) Fifth Assessment Report WG III: Mitigation of Climate Change will be published Details ttp://www.ipcc.ch/
April 2014: Vote in Plenary of the European Parliament on aviation in the ETS. http://www.airportwatch.org.uk/?p=18483
End of April 2014: The UK government now has two months to respond to the European Commission’s legal action on air pollution. Link
May 2014
1st May – European countries (France, Germany, UK) cease to be able to penalise airlines not complying with EU ETS details
2nd May: end of Farnborough airport airspace consultation – the airport wants to greatly expand their controlled airspace. Details
9th May – deadline for the “refreshed” scheme designs for the 3 short-listed runway schemes (2 at Heathrow, 1 at Gatwick) to be submitted to Airports Commission.
16th May – end of Gatwick consultation (start 4th April) Link
22nd May – local elections for parts of England. For all 32 London boroughs, all 36 metropolitan boroughs, 76 second-tier district authorities, 20 unitary authorities and various mayoral posts
22nd May – European Parliament elections. Most of the results of the election will be announced on Sunday 25 May, after voting has closed throughout the 28 member states of the European Union.
23rd May – deadline for Airports Commission consultation in which respondents are invited to submit analysis, evidence, and additional research or comments on an inner Thames Estuary airport. Details
23rd May – start of Gatwick 12 week consultation on future fight paths. Details
June 2014
1st June – Deadline for submissions to Heathrow 3rd runway competition. Details at www.no-ifs-no-buts.com
9th June – start of Airports Commission consultation on its discussion paper on the role of the regional airports. Ends 25th July Details
9th June – start of NATS consultation on changes to Stansted flight paths. Ends 8th September. Details
18th June – Gala evening to judge Heathrow 3rd runway competiiton www.no-ifs-no-buts.com
26th June – RunwaysUK conference on a new runway and land use planning. Link
June and early July – convergences of people from across France to Nantes, many on foot or bike, to take part in the gathering at Notre Dame des Landes on 5/6th July. http://www.acipa-ndl.fr/
July 2014
5-6th July: ACIPA, the group fighting plans for a new Nantes airport at Notre Dame des Landes, is holding another huge protest. Facebook details
15th July – like to be the date when the Committee on Climate Change report on climate progress, including comment on Airports Commission’s December interim report. Details
15th July – Government is expected to give its response to the Airports Commission’s Interim Report, which came out in December 2013. This response was initially expected at the end of March.
15th July – The Defra/Dft approved Noise Action Plans for all the airports will be issued.
24th – Gatwick Airport Ltd to publish results of runway consultation and summary of runway plans
25th July – end of Airports Commission consultation on its discussion paper on the role of the regional airports. Details
10th July – Airports Commission carrying out 4 studies to assess the feasibility of
the Inner Estuary Hub concept (one on surface transport). Final studies will be published for comment in July. link First report, on Environmental Impacts, published on 4th July.
August 2014
8th August – End of consultation period for comment on the Airports Commission paper on Environmental Impacts of a Thames estuary airport. Details.
15th August – end of Gatwick 12 week consultation on future fight paths. Details
15th August – end of Airports Commission call for evidence on delivery of new runway capacity. Details
Mid – 2014 – Airports Commission will decide if a Thames Estuary runway option, at the Isle of Grain, should be given more consideration in the second half of the year. Their interim report said (seems like an afterthought):”If a decision is reached that it should, it will be subject to similar appraisal and consultation processes as the short-listed options, although not necessarily to the same timescale.”
September 2014
2nd – Commission announced its decision not to short list a Thames Estuary airport
2nd – Start of Stansted consultation on its draft Sustainable Development Plan (SDP). Details
4th – Start of London City Airport consultation on airspace changes are RNAV. Ends 27th November. Details
The London City Airport flight path consultation document is http://www.londoncityairport.com/content/pdf/LCY-LAMP-Consultation-Document.pdf … more explanation, FAQs etc at http://www.londoncityairport.com/londonairspacemanagement …
8th September – End of NATS consultation (started 9th June) on changes to Stansted flight paths. Details
October 2014
10th October: Meeting with Heathrow, chaired by Michael Gove MP, for affected residents of the 3 villages (Lightwater, Windlesham & Bagshot)
13th October: Public meeting to be held at the Pavillion on Ascot racecourse at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm) about Heathrow flight path trial Details
Oct 2014 – the Airports Commission will publish the “refreshed” scheme designs for the three runway proposals (Heathrow north west option; Heathrow western extension of north runway; Gatwick southern runway). And a consultation would start, on these schemes, lasting perhaps till December.
22nd October – Meeting organised by Plane Wrong in Beare Green about Gatwick flight path changes. Details
23rd October – Meeting organised by Plane Wrong in Redhill about Gatwick flight path changes. Details
24th October – Meeting in Englfield Green (south west of Heathrow) about new flight paths. 7pm. Details. http://stopegtrials.com/ Organised by “Stop trial Flight Path Routes over Englefield Green”
27-31 October 2014 The IPCC’s (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s) Full Fifth Assessment Report AR5 Synthesis Report (SYR) will be published Details ttp://www.ipcc.ch/
31st October 2014 – end of consultation by GLA (Greater London Authority) on their Infrastructure Plan for London till 2050. Boris Johnson still pushing his aspiration of a 4 runway airport in the Thames Estuary. Link
November 2014
7th – end of Stansted airport consultation on its draft SDP (Sustainable Development Plan). Details
18th November – meeting by Betchworth, Buckland and Brockham Parish Councils on impacts of Gatwick runway plans. Details
19th November – deadline for submission of comments on Heathrow appeal against refusal by Hillingdon Council of works to enable take-offs to the east from the northern runway. Details
22nd November – protest meeting by GACC (Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign) against Gatwick flight path and 2nd runway plans. Gatwick’s BIG Enough. Details.
At the Apple Tree Centre, Crawley RH11 0AF.
2.00 pm (doors open 1.00 pm) to 3.30 pm
27th – End of London City Airport consultation on airspace changes are RNAV. Details
December 2014
3rd – Airports Commission public evidence session on Heathrow.
16th – Airports Commission public evidence session on Gatwick.
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