Use the form on the right to contact us.
You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right.
Herne Bay, England, CT6
United Kingdom
Community website for all things Herne Bay (Kent, UK). Covers: The Downs, Herne Bay Museum, Herne Bay Historical Records Society, Herne Bay Pier Trust, Herne Bay in Bloom, East Cliff Neighbourhood Panel, No Night Flights, Manston Airport, Save Hillborough, Kitewood, WEA, Local Plan and much, much more...
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.
No Night Flights home page
The Iran Air Fuel Fiasco has been an international PR disaster for the airport. As Maxim PR (the airport's own PR company) says on its website: "You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep".
One consequence of this shambles is that all Manston's customers will be watched more closely in future, which may not please all of them.
Charles Buchanan's comments in this BBC article make it clear that it is the airport's desperation for money that led them into this geo-political minefield, and that they're giving up this revenue stream very reluctantly. Incidentally, this story makes a lot more sense if you replace the word "ethics" with the phrase "public relations"...
A Kent airport has stopped allowing aircraft from Iran's national airline to make refuelling stops on return journeys from Heathrow. Kent International Airport at Manston said it made the decision in the last week amid the worsening diplomatic relationship between the UK and Iran.
Chief executive Charles Buchanan said the decision was the "right thing to do" for ethical reasons.
Iran Air had been refuelling at Manston airport for several months. Although its flights were able to land at Heathrow, they could not refuel there because US sanctions prevented Iran Air dealing with companies that had links to America. Manston, owned by Infratil, has no American trade connections.
Mr Buchanan said the airport had not breached any sanctions and that all the aircraft which landed at Manston had been cleared by the Civil Aviation Authority. The decision to stop refuelling Iran Air planes was made before this week's closure of the British embassy in Tehran and Iranian embassy in London.
"As a commercial enterprise this was a profitable exercise for us but the sensitivities of dealing with Iran have changed. We are trying to make the airport as profitable as we can and everything we do is targeted towards that.
But clearly we do have to take the ethics of the situation into account and take a decision that is right in the wider context. Any revenue is significant and so it was a decision that we didn't take lightly."
BBC 1st Dec 2011
No Night Flights home page
A Thames Estuary airport has won heavyweight backing from Business Secretary Vince Cable and one of Kent's most respected figures. With Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne expected to announce today that the government is taking more interest in the controversial plan, former Lord Lieutenant of Kent Allan Willett says it would be a wonderful opportunity for Kent.
The businessman and philanthropist who stepped down as the Queen's representative in August, believes that a new 'hub' airport for the county would transform the economy. Mr Willett, 75, the founder of a multi-million pound company Willett International, said:
"We need skilled jobs and, by God, you build an airport and you get lots of skilled jobs. Kent needs something like that.
Meanwhile, Mr Cable told business chiefs at Leeds Castle:
"I don't have anything against it. If it happens, it will probably solve a lot of problems. If it's feasible and private investors are willing to put lots of money into it, and the problems of birds, radar and over-lapping flight paths with the Dutch can be sorted out, I would have thought there's probably a good reason for it."
Kent County Council and Medway council have previously opposed the plan, preferring airport development to be at Manston. But KCC leader Cllr Carter today conceded there was a "very good business case" for a new airport while adding:
"What has to be talked about is the opportunity for an airport on the Essex side of the Thames."
kentonline 29th Nov 2011
No Night Flights home page
In the glare of the floodlights at a remote Home Counties airfield the crew of an Iran Air passenger jet set about a discreet spot of sanctions busting. The bizarre sight of the Tehran-bound plane has become a regular event as it refuels at one of the UK’s smallest airports so the scheduled flight can return to Iran.
Banned from filling up at Heathrow because of Western-imposed sanctions, the plane with up to 266 passengers has just made the quick hop to a virtually deserted Kent International Airport at Manston. Two fuel trucks bearing the insignia of Manston airport quickly arrive to make sure the jet has enough fuel for the six‑hour flight home.
For the past three months the regular Iran Air flights have taken a 40-minute diversion from Heathrow to the dimly-lit airfield near Ramsgate three times a week on the scheduled service to the Middle East.
On Thursday the Airbus 300-600, flight number IR170, landed at 5.40pm and taxied to an area near the tiny terminal building. It remained on the ground for an hour as the fuel was delivered and officials at the privately-owned airfield were paid for the transaction. Just a day earlier another Tehran-bound Iran Air jet from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam was spotted landing at Manston for a refuelling stop.
A spokesman for struggling Manston Airport, owned by loss‑making New Zealand company Infratil, insisted the deal was not breaching guidelines in place against the hardline regime of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over its nuclear programme. He said:
“We are complying with all the regulations laid down by the Civil Aviation Authority. There is no reason why we shouldn’t do it. As a small airport we have to do business where we can. We have flights from Iran Air refuelling on a regular basis.”
Infratil also owns Glasgow Prestwick Airport but together with Manston the two UK airports made a combined loss of almost £6million last year as passenger numbers fell. Oil giants BP and Shell have refused to service the Iranian jets at Heathrow and only this week the US joined the UK in announcing tough new measures against Iran. The UK said it was cutting all ties with Iranian banks as Chancellor George Osborne said all credit and financial institutions had to cease trading with Iranian ones.
Two-thirds of Iran Air’s planes are already banned from flying within Europe because of safety concerns. The Iran Air planes are able to land safely at Manston, a vital RAF base during the Second World War, because of its long runway. Manston Airport is considered a sanctions loophole as it has no direct business links with the US, which fears the Iranians are developing a nuclear bomb.
A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said:
“We don’t get involved in the politics of whether it is right for the planes to land there because of sanctions in place in the UK.”
Express.co.uk 27th Nov 2011
No Night Flights home page
No Night Flights home page
Just when you thought the world was going to Hell in a handcart, here's an excellent four minutes' worth of 24 carat common sense, out loud, and in public. Enjoy.
This is from the recent KIACC meeting. If you want to see and hear more good stuff like this, come to the No Night Flights meeting on Friday 25th November, at 7pm in Chatham House School in Chatham Street, Ramsgate.
No Night Flights home page
Firstly, we apologise for being unable to attend the meeting on Friday 25th.
We live in Beltinge and have noticed the increased air traffic on their landing approach to Manston. We do not appreciate being woken in the middle of the night or agree with the airport manager's estimate of how many local people will find employment at Manston with night flights.
Good luck with your campaign.
Regards J&J
No Night Flights home page
There is an urban myth that keeps popping up along the lines lines that Manston has the longest runway in the UK (or Europe, depending on how mis-informed the speaker is). It doesn't.
(I'm told by people who know about these things that modern aircraft, being more efficient, don't need very long runways anyway.)
| Airport name | Usage | Length (ft) | Surface | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Public |
12,799 |
Asphalt |
|||||
|
Public |
10,879 |
Asphalt/Concrete |
|||||
|
Military |
10,538 |
Concrete/Asphalt |
|||||
|
Military |
10,007 |
Asphalt |
|||||
|
Public |
10,000 |
Asphalt |
|||||
|
Public |
10,000 |
Concrete/Asphalt |
|||||
|
Military |
9,994 |
Asphalt |
|||||
|
Private |
9,842 |
Asphalt |
|||||
|
Public |
9,491 |
Asphalt |
|||||
|
Public |
9,491 |
Asphalt |
|||||
|
Military |
9,221 |
Concrete/Asphalt |
|||||
|
Military |
9,140 |
Concrete |
|||||
|
Military |
9,052 |
Asphalt |
|||||
|
Kent International Airport (Manston) |
Public |
9,029 |
Asphalt/Concrete |
||||
No Night Flights home page
Former Thanet council leader Sandy Ezekiel has been arrested on suspicion of fraud and misconduct in public office. Mr Ezekiel, who represents Cliftonville East ward for the Conservative Party, was arrested on 5th October. He was interviewed by police at his home.
Mr Ezekiel, 58, said he was unable to discuss details of the allegations for legal reasons, but confirmed he had been aware of an issue since May. He said:
"There is no wrongdoing on my part. This is the kind of thing you have to put up with if you are involved in local politics, it's as simple as that."
Another man, aged 63 from Margate, has also been arrested in connection with the same allegations. He is not a public official or thought to be connected with Thanet council in any way. Neither Mr Ezekiel, of Crow Hill, or the other man has been charged with any offence. Both men have been released on police bail until January 25, pending further investigations.
Mr Ezekiel has been a district councillor since 1999. He was re-elected in May's district poll with 1,187 votes – the most in the ward. He was leader of the council for seven years. As well as holding a seat on the council, Mr Ezekiel is a member of the Joint Transportation Board. Mr Ezekiel stepped down from the council's top elected role in March last year.
The reins of power were passed to Bob Bayford, who beat John Kirby in a poll of Conservative members to the post. Mr Bayford confirmed he was aware of the arrest but added:
"It would be totally inappropriate to make any comment at this stage."
IoT Gazette 18th Nov 2011
No Night Flights home page
The No Night Flights campaign group are kick-starting the public consultation on Manston's night flight proposals by organising a series of public meetings.
The first will be at Chatham House School hall between 7pm and 9pm on the evening of Friday 25th November.
There will be more meetings later. If you would like one of the meetings to be in your neighbourhood, just drop us a line. If you can provide a hall or meeting room full of people with questions, we'll bring some people with answers.
Come along on the 25th to find out what Manston's night flight proposals will mean for your neighbourhood, and to find out how you can help the campaign against night flights.
Bring a friend, bring a neighbour, but best of all bring your ideas and suggestions.
No Night Flights home page