Campaigners raise noise concerns over Cardiff airport flightpath plans
29.09.05
The tranquillity of a Welsh national park could be shattered if plans to alter passenger jet flight paths go ahead, countryside campaigners claim. The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) say the proposals could see flights increase by 42% over the Brecon Beacons by 2018.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is consulting over plans for a number of new flight paths across the UK. The routes, one of which would move 12 miles west in the region of the Brecon Beacons National Park, had been suggested by National Air Traffic Services. It says the new routes would improve air safety and cut congestion.
Sioned Humphries, a spokesman for CPRW, said the organisation was worried about the threat to the tranquillity of the area as well the effect on climate change. She claimed the proposals would increase the number of flights over the park to 'one every 2 - 3 minutes'.
'That will mean this tranquil, quiet area will no longer be as tranquil. We do see Brecon Beacons National Park as the urban lung. (People) are subject to noise throughout the week and it's only fair that they do get a little bit of tranquillity now and again.'
'We are also very worried about the climatic effect. On the one hand the government is urging us to save and conserve carbon, car sharing, etc., but on the other hand they are promoting our most polluting vehicle, the aeroplane,' she said.
But Cardiff International Airport managing director, John Horne, said that the campaigners had objected when the CAA's proposals were first put out to consultation. He added that most of the flights from Cardiff and Bristol under any planned changes would go south and west, away from the beacons.
'I think we have got to keep this in context. What were talking about is a very minimal shift in what's happening now. An arrival route will change and will move 12 miles west, in the region of the beacons but what were talking about is aircraft above 11,000 feet, in the quiet phase of their flight.'
'Hacking the development of airspace is attacking the wrong thing because one of the key features of this is (that) removing delays in the air, and congestion, means that aircraft that are flying less are burning less fuel,' he said.
Public consultation on the new routes closes on 7 November. For further information download a pdf document from: www.nats.co.uk/westend/ data/WESTEND_ENVCONSULT_Brecon_I.pdf
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