Manston night flights formally opposed by Thanet District Council
Scheduled night flights
have been sugested for Manston Airport
Plans for night flights at Manston airport have suffered a
big setback after councillors voted against the idea.
Cabinet members of Thanet District Council had already said they
would not support the bid by Kent International Airport.
However, a full council meeting last night formally opposed the
idea of night flights.
Manston wants some planes taking off and landing between 11pm
and 7am.
Scheduled night flights were suggested at the airport to help
increase air capacity.
But councillors decided the proposed scheduled flights would be
too noisy and have too great an environmental impact.
A consultation found three quarters of people living nearby also
did not want night flights.
Charles Buchanan, chief executive of Manston Airport,
said: “We are clearly very disappointed by this stance as it
is completely inconsistent with the council’s stated policy to
support the airport’s success as a creator of thousands of much
needed jobs.
“The
position the council adopted last night is also in sharp contrast
to its leader Clive Hart’s stated assertion of ‘the council’s
recognition of Manston Airport as an economic asset to
Thanet’."
He added: “Ironically at a time when the government is
recognising the role that Manston could play a part in supporting
the south east, by making use of existing under-utilised runway
capacity, Thanet is apparently rejecting the opportunity to build
its economy and create thousands of jobs.
“The immediate conclusion is that despite the council’s stated
support for the airport, the leadership has refused to recognise
the operational flexibility that its own expert identifies as being
necessary for that success. One can only guess why they have chosen
such a course and put at risk one of the engines for the long term
prosperity of Thanet.
“We will now obviously consider the council’s response before
providing them, as a consultee on night-flights, with a reasoned
reply in due course."
25/05/12
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