NewPoliticalSystem  Index  Home  New  Links Groups  

PlaneStations protestors quiz council

A summary of questions raised at the meeting:

IF the airport operators say they will go bust unless freighters are allowed to use Manston at night, will councillors cave in and allow this, claiming they have had a gun put to their heads?
Mr Clayson, Stuart Farm Cottages, St Nicholas at Wade

Cllr Sandy Ezekiel: The council supports all businesses in Thanet, including the airport. However, it always takes decisions in accordance with the law. The economic benefit is just one consideration. Environmental factors will be addressed by the night-time flying policy.
-----------

THE section 106 agreement (S106) prohibits regular scheduled night flights at Manston. If the council breaches this agreement, what confidence can anyone have the agreement or any future version provides protection?
Mr Ward, Mark Avenue, Ramsgate.

Cllr Bob Bayford: The S106 does provide for the introduction of a night-time flying policy and has done since it was signed in 2000. A proposal from the airport had never previously been received.  When it was, the council made it public. The concerns of residents, parish councils and others will be included in the policy. This rein- forces the value of the S106.
-----------

AS THE SlO6 is still being negotiated and therefore still in place, how can the council legally grant permission for night flights this summer?
Mr Rosso, Monkton Court, Monkton.

Cllr Ezekiel: Until the next Sl06 has been subject to public consultation the existing agreement remains in place. The existing Sl06 provides for introduction of a night-time flying policy .
-----------

CERTIFICATES of lawfulness cannot be used to expand or intensify use of the airfield. Regular; scheduled night flights have never taken place. Can Thanet Council explain why the introduction of regular scheduled night flights does not constitute a change of use requiring planning permission?
Mr Britton, Marlborough Road, Ramsgate.

Cllr Jack Cohen: The council has taken legal advice on whether 11 night-time arrivals requires planning permission. Officers recommend they do not. The arrivals are for a fixed six- month period. Consultation is about to start and the next SI06 will shape airport planning and development.
-----------

IF THE inspectors who conducted the local plan public inquiry were misled into believing there was no requirement for night flights, should the public inquiry not be reopened?
Mr Kirkaldie, Dane Crescent, Margate.

Cllr John Kirby: The proposal for 11 night-time, passenger service arrivals, emanates from PlaneStation. The council had no knowledge of the proposal, until just before it was made public. Consequently, the proposal could not have been discussed at the inquiry.
-----------

CAN the council explain why it is allowing Manston to be developed without full environmental impact and risk assessments mandatory for other developments?
Mr McCarthy, Vale Square, Ramsgate.

Cllr Cohen: The 11 arrivals do not justify a specific environmental statement either on their own merit or cumulatively with development previously permitted. IN 2004 Bromley council was approached with a proposal to extend operating hours at Biggin Hill.
-----------

They commissioned a study into what impact it would have on those near the airfield. Why has Thanet Council not commissioned a similar study?
Mr Binding, Grove Road, Ramsgate.

Cllr Kirby: The council[ is dealing with the proposal to introduce 11 night-time arrivals into its summer schedule, within the SI06. The position, and context of Bromley council's approach is therefore not directly comparable, In its review of the SI06, the council has instructed Specialists to review current practice.
-----------

HAVE the objectors to the airport operation been able to supply any credible evidence if aircraft noise on the flight-path amounts to anything greater than nearby trains or a heavy lorry?
Mr Medwell, St Peter's Court, Broadstairs.

Cllr Bayford: I suspect protesters might have statistics proving jet aircraft are slightly more noisy than lorries and trains. Tonight there are eight questions. Seven could be regarded as non-supportive. Yours is the only one perhaps in support. That's seven to one. I think we have a vociferous minority against a silent majority.
-----------

Parties go to war over summer night flights.

PERMISSION to grant late-night passenger flights at Manston airport has led to political mud-slinging. Conservatives controlling the council claim Labour is trying to win extra votes by opposing extra flights which are outside current planning rules in the 106 agreement.
The opposition says the lack of public consultation is "disgraceful" and believes the Tories have set a precedent for other airline companies to rush through new schedules.
Eleven EUjet flights a week will arrive after the 11 pm curfew with four landing after midnight from April to September.
The change was agreed at an extraordinary meeting of the council last Thursday where EUjet's summer schedule showed a clear Tory-Labour split.
Council leader Sandy Ezekiel said the Tories were committed to public consultation, but time con- straints meant a six-month period was out of the question.
He said: "It saddens me the opposition wants to stifle the airport and EUjet's success. If we went to public consultation and extended it to six months, EUjet couldn't fly:
"We will put out a new draft 106 agreement for the public and if all 126,000 Thanet voices say no to night nights, we have got a clear steer.
"I do feel for those people who do not seem to be able to sleep, but what has been there for nearly 100 years? The airport."
Cllr Ezekiel said the 106 agreement was constructed by Labour when it was in power and contained provision for night flights. "It is very clear and stipulates before night flights take place, in consultation with the council, they will produce a night-flying policy;" Cllr Ezekiel said.
He said the council would refuse to allow EUjet to force the council into future decisions. The timing also limited public comments.
CllrEzekiel added: "We won't be bounced again in quite the same way. we'll see how many complaints we get."

Labour leader Richard Nicholson said the move was a "scandal".
"We all want Manston to succeed, but this is not compatible with proper public consultation," he said. "Labour has always appreciated the employment and economic development benefits Manston has brought to Thanet.
"That is why; when Labour controlled the council, we negotiated the original 106 agreement allowing commercial flights to start.
"Unlike the Tories, we followed a proper consultation process to listen to local people."
Opponents to night flights have questioned the noise and environmental impact and whether penalties for planes arriving later than planned would still stand.
Cllr Ezekiel said: "Only planes of 0.5 on the sound scale are authorised to land at the late-night slots.
"EUjet will be fined if flights arrive after the designated times and will have to justify the late landings. If they are half-an-hour late, EUjet will face a £1,000 fine."
After a 90-minute debate, Conservative and Labour councillors had their votes recorded. All Tories were in favour, and all Labour against.
Lib Dem Cllr Trevor Enes and Independent Cllr Audrey Pickering both voted against night flights, but did not speak on the item.
-------------

Incoming planes are expected to begin descent in the Dover area and then to fly over Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay before touching down at Manston A resident at the Smugglers Leap end of Manston, who declined to be named, said: "It has certainly set a precedent. What happened to consultation and what the people of Thanet thought?
"There was a flight after midnight on Sunday: "We are upset about this because it seems people are being ridden roughshod over."
Cllr Ezekiel promised planes would land from the west, going over Herne Bay; and would not affect Ramsgate residents.

Late-night flight arrivals

Thursdays -from Malaga arriving 12.30am
Fridays -from Faro arriving 12.40am
Sundays -from Ibiza arriving 12.20am
Sundays -from Malaga arriving 12.55am
Weekdays- from Glasgow arriving at 11.10pm
Saturdays -from Seville arriving at 11.35pm
Saturdays- from Malaga arriving 11.50pm

MP Gale accused of u -turn

AIRPORT pressure group MAG claims to be pursuing legal advice. They put questions to Thanet Council's planning chief Cllr John Kirby, but were unsatisfied with the answers. Member David Britton said the responses failed to explain the legality of passenger flights at Manston. He also criticised North Thanet MP Roger Gale for "changing his mind" on the issue of night flights.
Mr Britton added: "There is no economic case for these flights."