Caroline Spelman MP calls for end to Birmingham flight path trials
Meriden MP Caroline Spelman has demanded the Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, calls a halt to Birmingham Airport’s flight path trials across her borough, since 1st May, after being handed a petition with over 1,500 signatures. The petition, which has been signed by a number of local action groups, calls on Transport Secretary to intervene in the trial following complaints over noise. The airport has been trialling two options for new flight paths for the past 6 months as part of the new runway extension. But residents claim the aircraft are not sticking to the routes accurately, causing planes to fly closer to their homes. Caroline Spelman says the fact the planes are not flying the accurate routes has invalidated the trial, and a review is needed of what has gone wrong. “. If the airport plumps for a compromise route which is different from the original two options there would need to be a further consultation.” The airport claims its new runway extension, as well as creating distressing noise and disruption for several thousand people, will ” deliver global connectivity and thousands of new jobs in the future for local people.” The CAA will finally decide on the flight paths.
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MP calls for end to Birmingham flight path trials
Conservative MP Caroline Spelman has called for the transport secretary to stop flight path trials being carried out from Birmingham Airport.
The airport began a six-month trial for two potential new flight paths in May, as part of a runway extension.
But some residents claim noise levels have increased and have organised a petition calling for a rethink on the flight paths.
Ms Spelman called for Patrick McLoughlin’s “urgent intervention”.
Meriden MP Ms Spelman said it was “very hard for the community to tell” which flight paths were better or worse for residents.
“I think we need the transport secretary to intervene and review what has gone wrong here. We have had three months of trials and they aren’t going very well.
“The airport isn’t able to fly these routes accurately and we can’t afford to just let these trials drag on where it is not working properly.”
Dave Ellis, from Balsall Common Action Group, which has organised the petition, said noise levels had increased.
“The noisiest planes are outgoing ones because they are fully laden and there’s some new routes coming in,” he said.
The airport, which has been contacted for a comment, is expected to submit its findings to the Civil Aviation Authority following the trials.
Work to add an extra 400m to the existing runway began in November 2012, after years of planning.
Airport bosses hope the longer runway will allow it to provide flights to more long-haul destinations.
The airport insisted it would assess the impact of the trial once it had ended.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-28541377
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MP demanding a halt to airport flight path trials
Caroline Spelman has demanded the Transport Secretary calls a halt to flight path trials across Meriden.
Meriden MP Caroline Spelman has demanded the Transport Secretary calls a halt to flight path trials across the borough after being handed a petition with over 1,500 signatures.
The petition, which has been signed by a number of local action groups, calls on Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin to intervene in the trial of the new flight paths from Birmingham airport, following complaints over noise.
The airport has been trialling two options for new flight paths for the past six months as part of the new runway extension. But residents claim the aircraft are finding it difficult to stick to the routes accurately, causing planes to fly closer to their homes.
“I sympathise with the disruption to people’s lives from the noise nuisance and consider that the inaccuracy of the aircraft trying to fly the new routes has invalidated the trial,” the MP said.
“I want the Transport Secretary to call a halt to the trial and review what has gone wrong. If the airport plumps for a compromise route which is different from the original two options there would need to be a further consultation, but I hope this time the airport will consider trialling the option proposed by the community to minimise the noise nuisance.”
A recent statement from the airport said: “A trial to test the actual impact of two potential flight paths has been in operation since May 1st and follows a full consultation period last year with the local community on the two options, known locally as Option 5 & 6. The consultation gave local people the chance to give their views and the trial is in order for the airport to understand the actual impact of the options, rather than theoretical modelling, before submitting its final findings to the Civil Aviation Authority.
“The new flight path, to the south of the airport, is required as a result of the runway extension, which is now open and will deliver global connectivity and thousands of new jobs in the future for local people.
“The airport is aware of a petition circulating in the community and is recording and responding to all correspondence received by residents.”
http://www.solihullnews.net/news/local-news/mp-demanding-halt-airport-flight-7520151
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2,000 join outcry over ‘noisy’ Birmingham Airport flight paths
Residents flock to sign petition claiming recent trials have made their lives a misery
More than 2,000 villagers living near Birmingham Airport have signed a petition calling for a rethink on flight paths following an outcry over noise levels.
Residents in Balsall Common, Hampton in Arden and Catherine de Barnes claim their lives are being made a misery by trials launched in May.
The tests have been held in advance of new flight paths following the opening of the airport’s runway extension.
The petition, backed by Meriden MP Caroline Spelman, will be submitted to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin. It calls on the Government to order a rethink by the Civil Aviation Authority.
The protest campaign was boosted by a public meeting last week at the Heart of England School, in Balsall Common, which attracted around 300 people.
David Ellis, of the Balsall Common Action Group, said: “It is really crazy. We used to accept noise but we are now getting twice the noise we had before. We know we can’t change things as they stand and we have to accept that is the law, but, on environment issues, the Secretary of State can order the CAA to call it in and look at it again.
“There is a lot of ill-feeling in the area. I was staggered by how many people attended the public meeting.
“I do not think that the airport realise that it is not just Balsall Common – it is also Hampton in Arden and Catherine de Barnes. Caroline Spelman is as angry as we are over this.”
An airport spokesman said: “A trial to test the impact of two potential flight paths has been in operation since May 1. The trial is in order for the airport to understand the impact of the options, rather than theoretical modelling, before submitting its final findings to the Civil Avitation Authority.
“The new flight path, to the south of the airport, is required as a result of the runway extension, which is now open. The airport is aware of a petition circulating in the community and is recording and responding to all correspondence received.”
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-airport-flight-paths-petition-7467128
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Earlier:
Battle of Balsall Common’ over plane noise, from Birmingham flight path trial, goes to Parliament
The Battle of Balsall Common – which has triggered waves of complaints of noise nuisance from planes taking off at Birmingham Airport – is to go to Parliament. Angry residents are raising a protest petition to be sent to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, to ask him to look at this trial, and call it in. People affected say their lives are being made a misery by trials launched in May in advance of new flight paths being made permanent. This has happened because of the runway extension. People are deeply angry and anxious, because these flight paths are away from the NPR routes (Noise Preferential Routes), which everyone has known about for years. People have checked, in the past, to ensure they have not chosen to live near an NPR. Now, areas which nobody could have guessed would be overflow have planes overhead every few minutes. Campaigners took to the streets of Balsall Common last weekend to get signatures, in a bid to force a Government rethink of the new flight path. David Ellis, of the Balsall Common Action Group, said: ““We are told they are over 3,000 feet but that is not the point – the noise is the problem.” There will be a public meeting on July 16th on the problem.
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