Campaigners angry as 278 flights break Belfast City Airport night curfew
15.09.10
Campaigners have accused the Department of the Environment (DoE) of inaction after it emerged there have already been 278 late night flights breaching the curfew at Belfast City Airport in the first seven months of this year, the Belfast Telegraph reports. This is a 32% pro rata increase on last year’s 359 late night flights, it revealed.
Under a planning agreement between the airport and the DoE, flights should only operate between 06:30 and 21:30, except in ‘exceptional circumstances’. Residents’ group Belfast City Airport Watch (BCAW) accused the DoE and its minister Edwin Poots of not enforcing the planning agreement.
Dr Liz Fawcett, chair of the BCAW, told the newspaper: ‘The department has a legal responsibility to enforce the agreement, but it is simply sitting back and letting the airport breach the rules. It is a complete abdication of the department’s responsibilities.’
Dr Fawcett said the group will be raising the late night flight issue and the enforcement of the planning agreement with the Assembly’s environment committee. She said: ‘We hope the environment committee will hold the minister to account over this matter.’
A planning spokesman responded to the comments, telling the newspaper: ‘The 2008 Planning Agreement provides for delayed scheduled flights during extended hours of 21:31 and 23:59. The department has no legal powers to impose a system of fines or penalties.’
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book belfast airport hotel or belfast airport car park at the lowest price click on these links to Belfast airport car parking and Belfast airport hotel price comparison pages.
