Gatwick community group calls for the new Government to restrict aircraft noise through policy
Local Gatwick community group, CAGNE, wants the next Government – after the 8th June election – to control aviation, and encourages voters to make an election promise to limit aviation through appropriate policy. The current Government’s consultation on national airspace policy suggests undertones of an industry that could be allowed to self regulate, under a more relaxed policy. The DfT consultation (ends 25th May) on airspace change proposes allowing the industry to have more self-regulation, by allowing airport owners more control of airspace. It also sets the bar for call in by the Secretary of State too high for communities to mount, requiring 10,000 complaints – a practical impossibility for a small group. The DfT also offer no independent ombudsman outside of CAA approval. Sally Pavey, Chair of CAGNE commented: “This permits the CAA to continue to play judge and jury as it is funded by the industry it serves. There is very little new policy in the consultation to make airlines reduce aircraft noise. It displays the attitude that aviation demands are a priority over that of those communities that suffer unacceptable level of aircraft noise, up and down the country, now.” CAGNE believes that ‘one size does not fit all’ when it comes to airspace design. The meaning being that each route has to be addressed separately so that the impact on communities can be addressed in a proper and fair way.
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Community group calls for the new Government to restrict aircraft noise through policy
21.4.2017
(CAGNE – Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions)
Community group calls for the new Government to control aviation and that voters make it an election promise to limit aviation through policy
The current Government’s consultation on national airspace policy suggests undertones of an industry that could be allowed to self regulate with a more relaxed policy
The current Government’s consultation* seeks to allow the industry to have more self-regulation by allowing airport owners more control of the sky and setting the call in by the Secretary of State too high for communities to mount (this would be a similar procedure as to a planning appeal could be dealt with but with airspace there would be a requirement for 10,000 complaints) and offers no independent ombudsman outside of the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) approval.
“This permits the CAA to continue to play judge and jury as it is funded by the industry it serves”, said Sally Pavey Chair of CAGNE, Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions. “There is very little new policy in the consultation to make airlines reduce aircraft noise. It displays the attitude that aviation demands are a priority over that of those communities that suffer unacceptable level of aircraft noise, up and down the country, now.”
“At present with so many airspace consultations taking place, it would seem that communities are to be put into groups, just tick boxes, so that they are seen to be consulted preempting any legal action.”
“We have to ask what the reality will truly be as the current Government seems to have set itself down a road of listening to the aviation industry over the voices of concerned constituents or the harm inflicted on the planet by an industry that is heavily subsidies by paying no duty or VAT on fuel, in Gatwick’s case specifically for leisure travel.”
The modernisation of airspace by the Government has become a national problem as airport owners endeavour to seize the heavily subsidised growth in low cost airlines, compete with each other, while persecuting communities with concentrated flight paths, day and night in Gatwick’s case.
The Government’s airspace consultation, which runs until 25th May, acknowledges CAGNE’s request that ‘one size does not fit all’ when it comes to airspace design. The meaning being that each route has to be addressed separately so that the impact on communities can be addressed in a proper and fair way unlike the current policy which tends to target those that moved away from noise to find tranquility in rural areas.
CAGNE would urge voters to visit the CAGNE website and participate in the consultation as policy is at the very heart of the modernisation of airspace above our homes.
This modernisation is what has changed and is now impacting all of our lives through concentrated flight paths and Gatwick’s continual push to increase the number of planes they put in the air per hour.
“It is simply unfair and immoral for a Government to allow an industry to persecute so many people whilst, in Gatwick’s case devaluing their homes and quality of life as Gatwick is surrounded by rural communities of Sussex, Surrey and Kent,” said Chair of CAGNE.
*The Government’s current airspace consultation can be found at
Current consultations – deadline 25th May 11.45pm.
https://www.gov.uk/government/
· CAA Consultation – deadline 30th June.
https://consultations.caa.co.
· Gatwick details:
Residents are advised to complain to Gatwick over aircraft noise, as this is how Gatwick judges aircraft impact.
http://gatwickairport.com/
· Councils are encouraged to join other council by joining the CAGNE Council Aviation Forum www.cagnepcforum.org.uk