Cautious welcome for rejection of airport’s bid to alter flightpath

Politicians have welcomed the rejection of a bid by Edinburgh Airport to alter flightpaths – but warned the fight is not over.

The Civil Aviation Authority made the decision after finding the airport’s final proposal differed substantially to the one that had been put before communities.

Critics said the changes would have had a huge impact on Inverkeithing, Dalgety Bay and North Queensferry.

Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell said: “This is a huge win for the local communities in Fife and I’m delighted that the CAA has paid close attention to the thousands of objections.

“Edinburgh Airport’s consultation was a cynical exercise which ignored the views of local people and pressed on with their expansion plans regardless.”

Dunfermline and West Fife SNP MP Douglas Chapman said the CAA had obviously listened carefully to the case made by communities.

“The reasons given by the CAA for rejecting the proposals contains all the issues our communities put into the consultation and I am delighted to have helped to advise on the arguments used to win the day,” he said.

“However, this is not the end of this particular runway and I am sure Edinburgh Airport will regroup after this serious setback today to submit another proposal in the future.”

He said he hoped both sides would find a way to work together that would allow the airport to be successful, while moving forward “with local communities and not in spite of local communities”.

Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath Labour MP Lesley Laird said: “This is welcome news but not the outright victory that communities hoped for.

“The matter is still to go before the UK Secretary of State but, unsurprisingly, Edinburgh Airport is already planning on conducting a new consultation.”

She said the next bid would be subject to new, tighter rules, but campaigners must be ready.