More flight paths good for business
A leading businesswoman has claimed We s t Lothian would benefit if Edinburgh Airporthad more flight paths over the county.
Linda Scott, the CEO of West Lothian’s Chamber of Commerce insisted airport expansion is crucial to helping businesses grow in the area.
Her comments came after the airport’s consultation over more flight paths closed on Monday.
The deadline had originally been set for last week, but after a website upgrade, airport bosses admitted they had lost 199 responses.
Most of West Lothian’s politicians have spoken out against flight path expansion over the county.
But Ms Scott told the Courier this week: “The expansion of Edinburgh airport is important for business in international and domestic markets as strong connectivity is essential to sustain growth.
“I’m confident that an acceptable solution to meet local issues will be addressed through the consultation process.”
The airport has already received 4000 responses to the consultation, which comes almost a year after the TUTUR flight path trial over West Lothian ended early following noise complaints.
One of the areas most affected by noise during that trial was Linlithgow.
Fiona Hyslop, the MSP for the area, said: “The results of this review could impact greatly on the current airspace consultation and therefore I am calling on Edinburgh Airport to wait until the CAA review report is published before proceeding with any future stages of its consultation.
“I have written to the Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport to relay these concerns and ask that he considers holding off with a second phase of Edinburgh Airport’s consultation to ensure that those who will be impacted the most by any changes in airspace have all the information available to them.”
Lothian MSP Neil Findlay, who has been a vocal opponent of the airport’s plans, said: “The airport were forced to abandon the new flight path trial after hundreds of complaints and people are perplexed as to why we need airport expansion when there is already spare capacity.
“All along I have suspected that this is more about fattening up the airport for sale than anything else.
“People do not want extra traffic and new flight paths, the lives of many are already blighted by it and they do not want any more noise pollution flying directly above their heads.”
Livingston MP Hannah Bardell said: “I have heard from hundreds of local residents regarding the new flight path proposals at Edinburgh Airport and the main concern is on the levels of noise of aeroplanes taking off and turning.
“Concerns during the flight trial last summer and since have varied from those who had to turn up the volume on their TV, to those who felt they were getting no respite from early morning and late night aircraft noise rousing them from sleep and having a detrimental impact on their health.
“It has been established that 70 per cent of aircraft arriving and departing from Edinburgh airport fly over my constituents and in line with that, have called for an expansion of the community investment fund in the Livingston Constituency and wider West Lothian area.”
A spokeswoman for campaign group, Edinburgh Airport Watch, added: “As the airport has admitted losing a significant number of responses, we would recommend that people retain a copy of their submission and also send it to their MP, MSP, and the CAA.”