Thanet District Council will be consulting with local residents after receiving a proposal from Infratil, the owners of Kent International (KIA), to adopt a formal night-time flying policy in line with the Section 106 agreement in place at the airport. This would allow flights to operate from the airport between 6am and 11.30pm which is one hour earlier, and half an hour later than the existing arrangements in place.Current operations at Kent International are subject to a Section 106 agreement established between the council and a previous airport operator in September 2000. This arrangement allows flights to operate 24 hours a day, but restricts the scheduling of aircraft between 11pm and 7am. An extension to allow for scheduling between 6am and 11.30pm was approved in principle by the council in February this year for British Airways Cargo, but the company did not ultimately relocate its operations to Thanet.
As part of this proposal, Infratil is also looking to introduce a formal noise quota system. This is used by many UK airports including Bournemouth and Bristol to restrict the amount of night-time noise generated by the operation of an airport. The current system in place at KIA requires operators of the noisiest aircraft types to contribute to a community fund. The penalties double each time the same registered aircraft operates between 11pm and 7am, which is a system unique to KIA.
Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Roger Latchford said: “We are keen to hear what the public in Thanet thinks of this proposal and we will ensure a thorough consultation. The airport is an important part of Thanet’s economy and we are keen to make sure that any future developments are considered carefully and take into account the views of local people. The council has been asked to consider extending operating hours before, but only following direct approaches from aircraft operators. This now enables us to give the proposal full consideration, without the pressure of a specific request. I hope that residents will take the opportunity to get involved over the coming months.”
Matt Clarke, Chief Executive of Kent International Airport, said: “Our aim is to provide the airport with a level playing field which will enable us to develop the business and maximise the economic benefits to Thanet. Presently we are competing for business at a significant disadvantage with unique restrictions not applicable to other airports.
“It is not widely known that an element of the current system means that regular operators face a potential bill of over £4 million per annum if just one flight per month suffers a delay. It is not hard to see why a regime like that adds difficulty to attracting new business and we are pleased to be able to work with the council and the community to agree to appropriate controls which provide a workable balance between airport growth and environmental restrictions.”
The council will be engaging in a comprehensive public consultation process. Details of the process and how to be involved will be announced following a meeting of the council’s Airport Working Party.
It would only take one resident to stop this madness. File a case (pick one from a list) in Europe and it will drag on for years.
ReplyDeleteSo this Kiwi noise-polluter wants to go from attracting 'Poundland' business to '99p Store' business. The 'holiday flights' are just window-dressing to buy-off the tabloid-morons of Thanet.
ReplyDeleteIt's all about Cargo. Noisy, polluting, environment wrecking, jobs and investment deterring Cargo.
Reminiscent of the days when TDC welcomed the social-dregs from all over the country, it now wants to green-light the airport to accept any old-knackers yard planes from who know's where. Any council would question why it wants Ramsgate dragged down to the level of misery suffered by others living under flight-paths. The Kiwi talks about 'A level playing field' - for whom exactly? His bosses and shareholders? This council should be doing all it can to ensure that Ramsgate will not be sacrificed for a here-today, gone tomorrow commercial outfit.
The arguments have all been well-rehearsed on both sides. The focus is now moving on to those individuals involved in the process.
There is a feeling afoot that there's something rotten at the heart of this council. We will, now with help from the BBC, find out what's really been going on before very long.
Well, certainly in time for the elections.
Click here for the full story. I'm sure that the vast majority of same Ramsgate people will find the proposals perfectly acceptable (I know I do!).
ReplyDeleteThey are talking about monitoring the noise, but they got rid of the noise monitors so how are they going to do that? They are talking about flightpaths that avoid Ramsgate - they are already supposed to use them, but they don't. They are talking about 12 weeks starting from two days ago to consult the whole of Ramsgate so they can fly crap over our heads at night, when they already have most of the day to do that.
ReplyDeletePut them up against the wall and shoot them.