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KENT INTERNATIONAL (MANSTON) AIRPORT – SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE

To: Full Council – 13 January 2005
Main Portfolio Area: Planning/Environment
By: Brian White – Head of Environmental Services
Classification: Unrestricted
Ward: Whole of Thanet

1. Between the meeting of Cabinet on 16^th of December and the 4^th January 2005 several letters and emails have been received
   from interested members of the public.
2. These are summarised on the attached matrix. On the 5^th January a total of 18 responses had been received. About half of the
    responses are from members of the Manston Airport Consultative Committee (MACC) and/or the Manston Airport Group (MAG).
3. The only response copied, and attached to this update, is that from Canterbury City Council. The other 17 have all been
   acknowledged, and the individuals will be kept informed when the night-time flying policy is agreed.
4. As can be seen from the summary of responses 11 are opposed to any night-flying whatsoever, unless subject to penalties
   within the terms of the existing Section 106 Agreement. There is also some consensus that the six month period proposed for
    night-flights should not become part of the routine schedule for the airport, at least without much more appraisal of impacts,
   especially regarding noise. One response, from a former employee expressed strong support for the proposal, certain parishes
   expressed caveated support, on the basis that monitoring and controls are adequate.
5. On 16^th December Cabinet noted that events had not enabled consultation regarding night-time arrivals, to be possible over the
   six month period stipulated in the Section 106 Agreement. Nonetheless, it agreed to the principle that a night-time flying policy
   should be negotiated, and put in place. Reasons for support included not just the economic importance of the airport, but also
   the fact that this discrete six month period of night-time arrivals, during the summer months, will provide an excellent opportunity
    to develop and put in place additional monitoring arrangements. Therefore, by the end of September 2005, the Council will have
    empirical data on the environmental impact, or otherwise, of the arrivals.
6. The decision that the principle of night-time passenger plane arrivals should be supported has been reinforced by the fact that
   the five flights each week from Newcastle, originally scheduled, to land at 23.15 will now arrive before 23.00. Consequently,
   only 11 night-time arrivals will be scheduled each week.
7. Officers have begun working with Planestation on the content of the proposed night-time flying policy for the specific six month
    period during Summer 2005.
8. Although, the subject of the proposed night-time flying policy for summer 2005 is separate from the public consultation on the
    existing Section 106 Agreement, due to commence in February, it will obviously be one of the issues included in that broad
   consultation process.

B J White
Head of Environmental Services