City Airport Debate Call

MP calls for Parliamentary Debate on ‘double whammy’ effect of flight changes at London City Airport.

Hornchurch and Rainham MP James Brokenshire has written to the Speaker of the House of Commons seeking a debate on increasing flight noise from London City Airport after a decision to route more flights over Havering was rubber stamped.  Plans to alter the departure routes for aircraft leaving London City had originally been including in wider changes to alter the airspace in the southern half of the country – referred to as ‘Terminal Control North’ (TCN). 

The TCN proposals for all London airports were put out for public consultation last year and the process has been deferred until next year to allow further public consultation to take place.  However, it was decided by the National Air Traffic Service and the Civil Aviation Authority to press ahead with the changes at London City Airport rather than allow further public consultation.  The effect is that aircraft are now flying on the new routes with the impact that more flights are being directed over Hornchurch and Havering.  This comes on top of a decision by the London Borough of Newham to permit a 50% increase in flights using London City Airport.

James Brokenshire is seeking a Parliamentary debate to raise concerns about the nature and extent of the consultation on the Terminal Control North proposals and why the changes at London City Airport were fast-tracked.  The MP had previously made representations opposing both the change in flight routings and the increase in the number of flight movements using London City Airport.

Commenting James said:

“I’m angry that residents living in this area are bearing the brunt of two bad decisions.  Increasingly, people will notice the noise nuisance from airliners climbing out of London City as the number of flights increase in line with the new permissions.  It’s a double whammy effect for Havering residents and it’s totally unacceptable. 
“Most people will be totally unaware of the decisions that have been taken against their wishes. I believe that the inability of the public to object to these plans simply isn’t right. That’s why I am seeking to bring these concerns to the notice of the Department for Transport through a formal Parliamentary debate and press them to reverse these damaging changes.”

The MP is also encouraging people to express their views on increasing noise nuisance from London City Airport by taking part in a noise consultation currently being conducted by London City Airport itself.  The consultation on the airport’s ‘Noise Action Plan 2009-14’ runs until 15 January 2010 and further information can be obtained from London City Airport’s website at http://www.londoncityairport.com/LandingPage.aspx?Page=noiseactionplan

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