Is airport trying for flying hours changes under radar?

From: Coun Jackie Whiteley (Con), Wharfedale Ward and Shadow Spokesperson for Planning and Highways, Bradford Council.

AS someone who lives directly under the flight path from Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), the 6.10am flight has been my unwanted alarm clock for years.

I am concerned that Leeds Bradford Airport has chosen to tack on the expansion of Day Time Flying Hours to their application to improve and expand the airport’s buildings.

The application either has to be accepted or turned down completely unless pressure is brought to bear on Leeds City Council to separate the two issues by asking LBA to resubmit their application in two parts.

Let me explain why this is important.

Firstly, the expansion of the airport is to be welcomed for its economic advantages to the region.

I think most people would agree it is a good thing and an planning application to improve the facilities is likely to be passed.

The flying hours is another issue. I believe by adding the extension of flying hours onto this application, that Leeds Bradford Airport is hoping that the importance of the airport to the local economy will see their request to extend the flying hours go through with little scrutiny.

What appears on the face of it to be a small change would have a great impact on our daily lives – there would be more daytime flights with the same amount of night-time flights which are currently limited.

So, more flights and more noise.

As a district councillor representing Burley in Wharfedale and Menston, I can assure you that noise pollution from planes is of great concern to residents.

Indeed, when the airport recently applied to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to change their Airspace Strategy, the application was refused on grounds of lack of consultation with residents who would be affected.

That is because we told them our concerns were being ignored. Arguably, this application to Leeds City Council is another way the airport seeks to make changes without proper consideration on the effect it will have on people’s lives.

I have asked Bradford Council to request that the two elements to this application form separate planning applications so that the benefits of expanding and improving facilities at the airport does not overshadow, and prevent proper scrutiny, of the effects of noise pollution on Bradford residents.