Nearly half of all airport complaints made by just five people

ALMOST half of the complaints received by Birmingham Airport last year were made by just five people, it has been revealed.

Official figures show that 45 per cent of the 829 complaints made about aircraft operations in 2017 came from a handful of individuals.

The data, taken from an annual report due to be presented later this week, shows that the total number of complaints had increased from 776 in the previous 12 months – a rise of almost seven per cent.

The airport has said that the overall increase is largely due to fears that have arisen following a consultation over proposals to change the direction of aircraft taking off to the north.

The plans caused particular consternation in North Solihull, with the creation of an action-group, the Castle Bromwich Airport Forum, to respond to the concerns. The proposals have since been submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The report said: “Whilst no changes to the flight paths have been implemented the consultation process heightened awareness of aircraft operations.

“As a result, this has led to an increase in the number of concerns received.”

The document also acknowledged the effect of the sheer volume of complaints from a small number of individuals, noting that taking the correspondence from a particularly prolific complainant out of the equation would have in fact resulted in figures for 2017 being 15 per cent down on the year before.

Analysis of last year’s data revealed that noise levels remained the single biggest concern for residents – accounting for just over half of all the complaints lodged over the course of the year. Other common gripes related to aircraft flying “off track” or too low over surrounding communities.

Less frequent concerns are grouped in the “other” category and although they only account for 28 of the complaints lodged in 2017, they run the gauntlet from the airport’s growth to the property damage allegedly caused by planes.