Anger over south coast flight path plans
23.10.07
MPs have criticised a lack of consultation on flight paths to south coast in a House of Commons debate. The new path will be over North Hampshire villages, including East Woodhay, Crux Easton, Woolton Hill, and Ashmansworth, and parts of West Berkshire, including Inkpen, Coombe, Kintbury and West Woodhay.
North West Hampshire MP, Sir George Young initiated Monday evening's debate, over plans by NATS (National Air Traffic Services), to introduce a new flight path into Bournemouth and Southampton Airport. He asked if a suitable case for change been made, and was the consultation process 'fit for purpose.'
Sir George said responsibility for consulting parish councils on the issue had been 'subcontracted by NATS to local MPs,' adding: 'although local authorities also had that obligation, none of my parish councils were notified by them, and NATS made no attempt to see if the cascade they asked for had taken place.'
Newbury MP, Richard Benyon, raised problems experienced by parish councils in accessing the consultation document online. He said: 'They could not read the last appendix, which details the estimated altitude of flights over their villages.'
A NATS spokeswoman said councils were sent the consultation document by registered post with a request to confirm receipt, while MPs were informed about the consultation in writing and also sent the full document.
The proposals cover an area from Newbury, south to the New Forest, but only for use in the early morning and evening. The NATS spokeswoman said: 'The airspace is used by the military during the day. The proposal is not designed around Bournemouth or Southampton airports; the main aim is to relieve a bottleneck over Newbury which causes particular delay to east / west, Heathrow / Gatwick traffic at the peak periods in early evening and early morning.'
A decision is due in January and, if approved, the change is likely to be implemented in March, or April.
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