‘Not about opposing aviation’ - Campaigners taken Gatwick concerns to Downing Street

Representatives from 22 community and environmental organisations visited Downing Street on Tuesday (September 1) to hand-deliver a letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham calling for independent oversight of the airspace change process.

Sally Pavey, who chairs the Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE) group, was among those attending.

Horsham MP John Milne also attended and backed the campaign.

The groups are concerned about provisions relating to airspace change in the Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill, which had its first reading in the House of Commons on September 1 after completing its passage through the House of Lords.

The Bill includes provisions concerning airspace change and would give the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) new rule-making powers.

In their letter to Mr Burnham, the campaigners said their concerns were not about aviation expansion.

“This is not about airport expansion,” the letter states.

Instead, they argue residents need an independent way of seeking a review when changes to flight paths have a significant impact on communities.

The groups say residents affected by aircraft noise can have limited practical options to challenge an airspace change once it has progressed through the existing consultation process.

They claim communities living beneath concentrated flight paths could experience increased noise, sleep disturbance and loss of amenity.

The letter calls for an ‘independent airspace change ombudsman’ or ‘equivalent oversight body outside of the CAA’.

It says such a body would give affected residents a route to raise concerns and provide additional scrutiny of decisions affecting communities.

Ms Pavey said: “This Bill risks giving communities the worst of both worlds: more decisions made over their heads, with no independent way to review them.

“If there is to be an independent ombudsman in the Clean Water Bill, and passengers, airlines already have one then there must also be one for the impacts of airspace change.”

Mr Milne said he supported the call for an independent ombudsman.

“I am pleased to support the delivery of this letter to Downing Street and to make the case for an independent aviation ombudsman,” he said.

“This is not about opposing aviation; it is about basic fairness. When major decisions are taken that affect people’s homes and wellbeing, residents should have a genuinely independent route to raise concerns outside the Civil Aviation Authority.

“Ombudsman protection exists in many other sectors. Aviation communities deserve the same safeguard.”

Tim Johnson, director of the Aviation Environment Federation, which signed the letter, said: “Residents should not be forced to accept life-changing flight path changes imposed over their homes with no independent appeal.

“We are asking the Prime Minister to stand up for communities from Kent to Newcastle and beyond by supporting a proper aviation ombudsman outside the CAA.”

CAGNE was joined in signing the letter by organisations including the Aviation Environment Federation, HACAN, HACAN East, the Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport, CPRE Sussex and campaign groups representing communities around airports including Bristol, Luton, Farnborough and Newcastle.

The campaigners said they recognised the need for a ‘safe, efficient and modern aviation system’, but argued that the redesign of UK airspace should also take account of the impact on people living beneath flight paths.

The Bill's current version includes provisions relating to the implementation of approved airspace change proposals and reviews of airspace design.