I appreciate that the ongoing debate about the extension of the operating hours at Biggin Hill Airport raises strong and genuinely held feelings from residents across the constituency, and I thought now would prove an ideal time to update you on the current situation.
As you may be aware, following a consultation which closed on Friday 13 March, Bromley Council has approved in principle to an application, submitted by Biggin Hill Airport Limited (BHAL), which seeks to amend the operational timetable of the Airport. More details of the proposals that have been put forward by BHAL can be found through the link below:
http://www.bigginhillfuture.co.uk/opening-hours.html
Many residents have contacted me over the last couple of months to raise their concerns about the impact this could have on their quality of life, and whilst I have no direct say on any decisions the Council make, I have been clear from the start that I see no reason why the Airport’s lease should be changed. The Council has owned the freehold of the Airport since the 1970s, and the terms of the lease with BHAL are explicit to protect the interests of local residents and to ensure minimal overflight disturbance. This is something that must be kept a priority, regardless of any future decisions that are taken.
I have written to the Chief Executive of Bromley Council, Doug Patterson, urging him to be as open and transparent as possible in his ongoing discussions with BHAL, underlining the need to put the concerns of residents first and to ensure rigorous safeguards are in place to protect households in the Borough, particularly from aircraft noise at unsociable hours. I have attached a copy of my letter at the bottom of the page.
I have also been in correspondence with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK’s specialist aviation regulator, for some time regarding the rise in aircraft noise in the Borough. It has been very noticeable that more and more Bromley residents are being affected by this problem, and this is something that I will certainly raise with the CAA’s Chief Executive, Andrew Haines, who I hope to meet with in the very near future. Again, I’ve attached a copy of my latest correspondence with Mr Haines below.
As I say, discussions with BHAL are ongoing, and you can still contribute to the debate by writing to the Airport Consultation Group, Bromley Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley, BR1 3UH, or alternatively by emailing [email protected].