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

Pilot says planes do not need to fly over Ramsgate from or to Manston

Clipping: thisiskent

Eastcliff Residents' Association has been told by a pilot that flights do not have to go over Ramsgate. An international pilot has told a residents' association that many of the flights over Ramsgate could be avoided, reducing noise pollution over the town. Eastcliff Residents' Association treasurer Chris Welch and Airport Working Party member Peter Campbell agree that the airport and Thanet council could do more to encourage pilots to take off and land from the Herne Bay direction.

Infratil asks pilots to consider taking off away from Ramsgate to "minimise the disturbance caused to the residents" providing there is a wind speed of less than five knots. However pilot instructions conclude "acceptance is at the pilot's discretion" and Mr Campbell believes this could be part of the problem. He said:

"It strikes me that pilots will choose the easy option every time. They should amend the following two areas of guidance. Five knots (7mph) isn't really a wind, it's a breeze and there are rarely wind speeds here of less than this. Taking off away from Ramsgate should be the preferred route unless the pilot deems it as unsafe in any way."

Eastcliff residents regularly complain about low-flying aircraft landing at Manston. The pilot believes many inbound flights over Eastcliff (Ramsgate) could be avoided altogether, providing winds are light, the runway surface is good and subject to aircraft safety and performance. He said:

"It's not normal to have planes taking off and landing in opposite directions because it complicates air traffic control. However it is done at Sydney International Airport (Australia) to reduce noise from night flights over the city."

District councillor for Pegwell and Cliffsend John Kirby said:

"I really can't see why they would compromise safety to bank right. I think it should be re-assessed when flights get heavier."

ERA chairman Paul Warrick said:

"So much local emphasis is being placed on night flights but we feel that the expansion of air traffic in general is going to be more intrusive to residents."

Manston chief executive Charles Buchanan:

"I will look into the possibility of pilots banking hard right when taking off over Ramsgate in winds over five knots and check how many pilots are choosing fly in over Ramsgate and not to use the preferential route in light wind. Safety comes first, rapidly followed by environmental concerns. Planes take-off predominantly away from Ramsgate because the prevailing wind here is westerly."

By saul leese saul.leese@krnmedia.co.uk