Scheduled night flights have been sugested for Manston Airport

by Julia Collins

Proposals for night-time flights at Manston Airport will not be supported by Thanet District Council.

At a meeting last night, cabinet members recommended the council reject the introduction of limited night-time flying.

Scheduled night flights had been 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.

Carole Russell, of the No Night Flights protest group, said: "We're very pleased with this result. We've been fighting against these proposals for two years.

"Now we feel as if it is all going the way of the public's vote on the consultation and that things are going well.

"We have no problem with the airport expanding and increasing daytime flights, but night flights would be too disruptive for local residents and be detrimental to health."

Another member of the group, Steve Higgins, is also delighted.

He said: "This is great news for Ramsgate, not just those in the flight path but for the town as a whole."

Thanet District council leader Cllr Clive Hart said: "Our public consultation clearly demonstrated that a large number of residents were against the introduction of night-time flying.

"Having considered the views of local people, the findings of our independent assessment and the proposals themselves, it is clear what our recommendation to council had to be.

"We are however, fully supportive of the airport. Encouraging regeneration in Thanet and supporting local businesses is vital to the success of the area, but this can’t come at any cost."

Cabinet members were considering the council's draft consultation response to Manston Aiport, which will now go to full council for final debate on Thursday, May 24.

Manston Airport chief executive Charles Buchanan said: “I have been assured by the leader of Thanet District Council that the local authority recognises the airport as ‘an economic asset to Thanet’.

"However, I have pointed out that this stated position is fundamentally at odds with the decision taken by the cabinet to not support any night flying operations at Manston."