Nethercourt Residents...

Meeting at St Lawrence Community Centre (opposite Budgens) starting at 7pm, Friday 1st December.

Some of the No Night Flights group will be doing a short presentation and answering your questions.

Labour denies night flight U-turn

For myself, I think the idea of a "whipped" vote (when members are formally ordered to toe the party line) is an affront to democracy. Each councillor's first duty is to the residents of their ward, and if that conflicts with party policy, then the residents' interests should win every time.

That said, there is no practical way of telling whether a vote has been informally whipped, with the usual mix of sticks and carrots. And there's always (thankfully) some bloody-minded/ruggedly independent individuals who simply won't do what they're told.

Finally, I do wish politicians wouldn't say things like "People will have to trust us" - it's guaranteed to raise both chuckles and hackles.

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Thanet Labour leader Clive Hart has denied a U-turn on his party's pre-election anti night-flight pledge.

Manston airport's owner Infratil has revealed plans for up to eight movements a night, in an application submitted to Thanet council last week. That will kick-start 12 weeks of public consultation on the proposals, which if approved would overturn the current ban on scheduled aircraft landing or taking off after 11pm or before 7am.

In the run up to May's local elections the district's Labour party said that it would unanimously oppose night flights from Manston. After the election, which left Thanet council hung, Labour claimed that its no to night flights policy had helped swing the vote in the Nethercourt area of Ramsgate, which lies under one of the airport's flight paths.

This week, in a statement responding to Infratil's submission, Mr Hart said his members will be giving their own views during the consultation. He said:

"Over the coming weeks and months members of the Labour group will scrutinise the proposed night-flying document carefully and thoroughly. Our district councillors will then make their individual views known at the appropriate points in the process, having taken account of all the information available."

The Conservatives already guaranteed an "unwhipped" free vote for their group members.

The latest night flight policy proposal was submitted to Thanet council by Infratil last Thursday. The proposal's include an aircraft noise assessment report and an economic assessment explaining the implications of the proposal. This application follows on from previous proposals for night-time flying which were submitted to the council by the airport in September 2010. Mr Hart has denied that the party's most recent statement is at odds with their original campaign pledge. He said:

"It would be foolish to say anything about it when we could be barred from speaking on any possible future planing [sic] application, and that is the situation we are in. We haven't gone back on any of our pledges. People can think what they like, for me to say anything else won't do anybody any favours. I would bar myself from taking part in the debate. People will have to trust us."

Council leader Bob Bayford said:

"I definitely think that a free vote is the right way to go, which is what our policy has always been. I am not sure how people, who voted Labour on the pledge that they will be against night flights, will feel about Labour's recent statement."

The council will now seek an independent assessment of the proposals and technical reports by an external company before public consultation on the proposal can begin. Mr Bayford said:

"We know this is a hugely important issue, especially for those living under the flight path, so will be providing a minimum consultation period of 12 weeks for people to have their say. I'd like to encourage everyone with a view to ensure they take the time to participate."

The latest proposal details plans for an average of eight scheduled flights a night. Scheduled night flight are currently prohibited under the airport's agreement with the council. A start date for a full consultation will be announced when an independent report is completed.

Paul Twyman, the independent chairman of the Kent International Airport Consultative Committee, said the committee was in favour of the development of the airport, subject to satisfactory environmental controls. He added:

"The key issue is whether the proposals put to the council take proper account of the effect on the environment, and how that balances with the employment and other economic benefits. It is important that the public consultation takes place with plenty of information in the public domain, and that we all have ample time to consider what is proposed. I am in the hands of the committee, but I am pretty sure that they will want to have a special meeting to discuss the application, and there will be pressure for this to be in public."

The new night flight submission can be viewed here.

IoT Gazette 4th Nov 2011

Ramsgate chooses Beauty not Blues

Well, well, well – what is this that I spy on the blue-tinted map that shows who’s got the power in councils across Kent? A rosy red glow has settled over Ramsgate. Going against the electoral tide for the South East, the Ramsgate lefties spread their scarlet stain across the wards, scooping up seat after seat.

Those in the know point to Labour's pre-election pledge to oppose night flights as being the balance-tipping deal-clincher. Industrious and idle alike, the people of Ramsgate value their beauty sleep, and didn't want Manston to make them ugly. So they put their kisses next to the Labour names.

This leaves the Conservatives with a dreadful dilemma - they might even be looking forward to the Independents taking the decision out of their hands...

They can stick with Plan A, and allow the Manston Kiwis to fly as many rusting freight crates as they like over sleeping town below, and say goodbye to the dream of ever winning a seat in Ramsgate again. Sleepless and grumpy, the voters won’t give their votes to the very people who made them become ugly.

Or the Conservatives can take the splendid Bureau Veritas report to heart, and accept that the economic gain of night flights at Manston will not in any way match the social and economic pain. This would mean turning down a future night flight application made by their pal Charles Buchanan (recently seen up close and chummy with ruddy ex-Number 2 Latchford).

Back the airport, or back in power? An excruciating choice for the Blue corner.

It remains to be seen whether Mr Buchanan is cute enough to recognise this, and to resist the temptation to submit another night flight application… or will he embarrass his blue friends by asking them to decide soon one way or another?

We watch and wait.

Labour's red letter day at expense of Tories

Thanet Conservative party took a pounding in Thursday's district elections, leaving three independent councillors with the power to decide who will lead the council. The Tories were ousted from six seats in Thursday's poll – losing five to Labour and one to a new independent – meaning they forfeit overall control of Thanet council.

One of the greatest shocks was the loss of Ramsgate's Nethercourt ward by Tories Jill Kirby and Brenda Rogers to Labour rookies Kim Gibson and Steve Alexandrou. Mrs Gibson and Mr Alexandrou, who both live on the flight path to Manston Airport, took a tough stance against night flights during their election campaign. Both Labour candidates were also elected to the town council. Mrs Gibson said:

"I think the swinger was the night flights. When I was campaigning, residents also told me that they felt let down by them and that they didn't live on the ward. What you see is what you get and we will not put up with the nonsense that goes on at full council."

Conservative leader Bob Bayford took a positive stance on his party's performance. He said:

"I am satisfied at how well the Conservative share of the vote has held in this election. Far more people in Thanet voted for the Conservatives than for Labour. A marginal increase in the Labour vote of 5 per cent has given them a disproportionate increase in seats."

Labour's leader Clive Hart said:

"We have made huge gains and for that I am very happy. We were just two votes apart on one councillor in Beacon Road Ward. It was extremely close, just two votes out."

The picture was equally bad for the Tories on Ramsgate town council where they were all but wiped out – only Pat Doyle retained a seat for the Conservatives. Labour increased its seats on Ramsgate town council to 15 out of 16 places. Conservatives held on to control of Broadstairs Town Council. A spokesman at Thanet council stressed that Conservative, Labour and the independents must reach a deal by the council's annual meeting, saying:

"Decisions about which party will be running the council will be made at the annual council meeting that is due to take place on Thursday, May 19. At this meeting, the chairman and leader of the council will be elected. In the meantime, the council will continue to run its day-to-day business with the responsibility falling to the chief executive. He will consult with the main group leaders on any significant issues that need to be decided on."

IoT Gazette 13th May 2011

Night flights stance 'clinched seats'

One of the crunch seats in last Thursday's poll may have been lost over the issue of night flights from Manston airport. Residents living under the flight path ditched Conservative councillors Jill Kirby and Brenda Rogers for anti-night flight Labour rookies Kim Gibson and Steve Alexandrou. Miss Gibson believes her party's tough stance on night flights clinched the seats. She said:

"I think what swung it was the night flights. When I was campaigning, residents told me they felt let down by the Conservatives and that they didn't live on the ward. Night flights is an incredibly important issue for people living here and people want us to fight these plans."

Mrs Kirby, the wife of Kent county councillor John Kirby, admitted the airport was a huge issue for residents. Mrs Kirby, who said she will now quit politics, said:

"It was put about that we would vote for night flights, but the Conservatives have always promised a free vote. When we carried out a survey last year we asked residents if they were OK with extending the shoulder periods for flights but not night flights. I think the council needs younger councillors now."

Nethercourt ward saw the third highest turnout across the district election.  The owners of Manston airport have asked Thanet council to lift a ban on flights after 11pm and before 7am. Infratil says that the flexibility for having planes land and take-off between these times is crucial for the airport's development. 

Chief executive Charles Buchanan refused to be drawn on the consequences of last Thursday's poll, which could see Labour with its policy of no night flights, take control of the council.  Mr Buchanan said:

"The position is clear. We had an application for the management of night-time flying – that application outlined the need for the airlines to be able to fly at night. We proposed a schedule of night-time activity and we will work with the local authority to make sure this business can flourish. The ability to schedule night time activity is an important part of developing Thanet's economy."

thisiskent 13th May 2011