Scottish Green MSPs say the launch of a further wave of consultation by Edinburgh Airport is “pointless” given the strong public opposition to expansion plans.
Green MSPs Alison Johnstone, Andy Wightman and Mark Ruskell have been contacted by concerned residents across Lothian region and Fife, as changes to flight routes would negatively affect many communities.
Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, said: “At no point has the option of not expanding been considered. This latest so-called consultation is pointless as it wrongly assumes that more air travel in and out of Edinburgh is a good thing.
“Expansion will clearly have a region-wide impact on people and wildlife from aircraft noise and air pollution, and a national impact from increased climate change emissions. We need a wider conversation about alternatives.
“During public meetings last year, airport representatives talked about doubling take off times from one flight every two minutes to one flight a minute. This isn’t discussed anywhere in the consultation, so the public are not being given the full facts.
“The responses from the last consultation showed a majority were negative. Green MSPs will continue to challenge Edinburgh Airport’s profit-driven motives and put forward sustainable ways to support our economy.”
Edinburgh Airport launched the second stage of its public consultation on the Airspace Change Programme (ACP) on Monday.
The ACP is about the way in which Edinburgh Airport intends to grow, ensuring that it continues to be able to support Scotland’s economy and jobs in a safe and effective way.
The existing flight paths used by aircraft rely on the 1950s technology of ground-based radio beacons. Any new flightpaths changes would be introduced using well-established and more accurate form of navigation called Area NAVigation (RNAV). RNAV uses a combination of satellite and ground-based navigation technology to permit aircraft to follow a precisely defined path over the ground with far greater accuracy than is possible with conventional routes.
The second stage of consultation “You Spoke and We Listened” material presents a range of proposed new flight paths which have been informed and influenced by the public responses from the initial ACP consultation period between June – September 2016.
If the airport’s preferred proposed flight paths are approved by the CAA, it would mean that aircraft would fly over fewer people than at present and would reduce the noise impact for thousands of residents in our neighbouring communities.
According to Edinburgh Airport, the airport’s preferred options, if implemented, would deliver the following major benefits:
- The number of people who are currently overflown by aircraft up to around 7,000 ft above their properties would also reduce significantly compared to our current routes, and affecting the lives of nearly 25,000 fewer people. *based NATS analysis
- We would be reducing our Carbon Foot print and our effect on the environment.
- Optimised operational benefits and the ability to meet and accommodate existing and future growth while maximising the safety of all of passengers.
Launching the second phase of the consultation Gordon Dewar, Edinburgh Airport’s Chief Executive, said: “Today I have written to over 640,000 households across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Falkirk and Fife outlining the design of the flight paths and seeking the public’s views on the proposals of a range of options in and out of Edinburgh Airport.
“Our proposed flight paths are a balance of interests focused on three key factors: impact on communities, airspace regulation as well as airport and aircraft operations. Edinburgh Airport and the aviation sector in general are strongly growing parts of a still sluggish Scottish economy – and we have get this right for the sake of jobs in Scotland and environmental considerations.
“At the very heart of our proposals are the findings of the initial consultation – we have listened to the public in finding a solution.
“The bottom line is that our proposed changes would mean a reduction in noise for nearly 25,000 people.
“We have worked closely with key stakeholders including community and environmental groups and our proposed changes would reduce the noise impact on the community, reduce emissions and allow us to continue to meet growing demand safely and sustainably.
“In this second stage of public consultation we will be reaching out again to our neighbouring communities. Our community engagement campaign will be backed up by media advertising and a locally targeted social media campaign to provide information relating to drop-in sessions and links to the feedback pages of the website.
“We will host drop-in sessions in communities and A mobile advertising trailer will be in the area in the days prior to highlight this opportunity.
“In the initial consultation over 5,000 members of the public responded to the consultation. This time, with lines on the map, we look forward to hearing from even more people.
“As with all major infrastructure expansion plans, we know that not everyone will agree with our proposals; therefore we are committed – where people are adversely impacted by changes – to mitigation and compensation measures.”
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