Parliament debate airport flight paths
Motion tabled regarding controversy over routes
The new controversial flight paths planned for Edinburgh Airport have been slammed by politicians after a motion was brought before the Scottish Parliament.
Neil Findlay, Labour MSP for Lothian, took the motion before the Scottish Government, highlighting alleged flaws in the airport’s consultation process and community outcry over the proposed new paths.
Speaking after his address to Parliament Mr Findlay said: “Edinburgh Airport’s consultation has been shambolic and is fundamentally flawed. They have used out of date data from the 2011 census as the basis of their consultation. This methodology has utterly failed to take account of the thousands of new build houses in places like Winchburgh, East Calder and Kirkliston. The people now living in these houses were told they were not affected by the airport’s plans yet now find, once they have bought their house, that they are.”
The MSP also questioned the airport’s claim that 25,000 fewer people would be flown over with the new routes, asking where that information had come from.
The politician also stated that the airport was operating below 2007 levels of capacity, questioning the need for any expansion.
Mr Findlay said: “It has always been my belief that this is not about addressing demand but is all about fattening up the airport for a future sale. It is abundantly clear that the owners of Edinburgh Airport are putting fat cat profits before the people of West Lothian, Edinburgh and Fife.”
At the debate Transport Minister Humza Yousaf stated that it was “not acceptable” that residents of Winchburgh had not been told in the first phase of the consultation that they would not be affected only to find out in the second phase that they would.
Mr Yousaf also said it “beggars belief” that Edinburgh Airport did not consult with Winchburgh Developers in the first instance of their consultation.
Fiona Hyslop, SNP MSP For Linlithgow has called upon the airport to halt their route changes.
She said: “I am again calling upon Edinburgh Airport to postpone progressing with their airspace change programme at this time in order to fully engage with communities, to consider and address the many concerns raised about the consultation process itself before making any determination of its worth.”
However, the politician also said that she was sure the majority of people were aware of the benefits of the airport and the new routes.
She said: “From speaking to constituents who have been affected by aircraft noise across my constituency, I am well aware that the majority understand, as I do, the economic contribution the airport makes and the benefits of new routes.
“The issue here is how the flight paths for any further growth are managed and more importantly how the airport continues to engage with the local communities that their flight paths are affecting and will affect in the future.”
Edinburgh Airport’s consultation has been shambolic and is fundamentally flawed