Hundreds attend flightpath protest meeting
11.04.08
More than 300 people attended a protest meeting at Lavenham village hall yesterday to support the 'Save Our Silence Action Group (SOSAG)'. The group was established to fight proposals for a stacking system which could see up to eight planes at a time circling above the village before landing at Stansted Airport.
The protests were led by South Suffolk MP Tim Yeo, who said those who wanted to protect their tranquility faced a tough, long battle. He said: ‘There will be a lot of blood, sweat and tears for this to be successful but people-power can win if everyone takes action.’
Air traffic control company National Air Traffic Service (Nats) has issued a consultation document on plans to set up three new aircraft stacks for planes waiting to land at London airports – including one directly above Lavenham and the surrounding area.
Frances Bee, a SOSAG member, said: ‘The impact on us all will be massive. There will be an aircraft every four minutes increasing to one every two at peak times just 7000ft above us. And if Stansted expands as planned there will be 68 million people a year using the airport and even more planes stacked above us.’
She said Nats had targeted the area as its criteria was to direct flights over low population areas. She added: ‘As it is tranquil and quiet in this area the relative impact will be so much greater than areas that already have more background noise.'
Jeremy Pembroke, Suffolk County Council leader and chairman of the meeting, said representatives from Nats had refused an invitation to the meeting. He said: ‘The campaign has got off to a fantastic start tonight with so many people turning out – now everyone must take action, write to their MPs, the Government and voice their opinion in the consultation.'
The next SOSAG public meeting will be at Lavenham village hall at 19:45 on Monday, April 21. The public consultation ends on May 22. For more information visit www.nats.co.uk/TCNconsultation.
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