Flightpaths to be expanded over rural homes

12:40pm Tuesday 5th February 2008

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By Chris Yandell »

CONTROVERSIAL plans to send passenger jets over some of the most tranquil parts of the Hampshire countryside have been given the go-ahead.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved proposals to expand the flightpaths used by aircraft coming into land at Southampton and Bournemouth airports.

Villages in the Test Valley and the New Forest National Park will be among those hardest hit by the decision.

Planes will be banned from flying over the area after 9.30pm - but flights will resume as early as 5.45am in summer and 6.30am in winter.

A CAA report admits that "some aircraft noise at low levels will be experienced".

It adds: "There will be an impact on tranquillity. Visual intrusion and noise is likely to be a new feature for areas that are not currently overflown by commercial aircraft."

Planes using Southampton and Bournemouth airports already fly over parts of the Forest, including Hythe and Burley.

However, the scheme approved by the CAA means jets will be routed over villages that are currently among the quietest in the district.

The proposals sparked outrage when they were unveiled last summer.

Campaigners in the Bramshaw and Minstead area said communities would be plagued by as many as 30 aircraft a day flying at just 5,500ft.

Villagers have condemned the CAA's decision to support the plans but have also welcomed certain restrictions imposed by the organisation.

New Forest East MP Julian Lewis said: "I suppose we should be grateful that flights will not be permitted between 9.30pm and 5.45am in summer, or before 6.30am in winter.

"We have been promised a review 12 months after the scheme is introduced on April 10.

"I strongly advise anyone whose sleep is disturbed to make a detailed record of times and dates and send this to me by the end of March 2009."

Caroline Nokes, the prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Romsey and Southampton North, said: "I'd only describe this as a partial success.

"There will be less night flying and the planes will be higher. However, I remain concerned about the impact on the tranquillity of the countryside."

The New Forest National Park Authority said it was "deeply disappointed"

at the CAA's decision to allow the airspace over the area to be expanded.

A spokesman said: "Although the CAA recognised our concerns and accepts that there will be an increase in noise and a loss of tranquillity, they concluded that it is outweighed by other issues."

The fiercely contested plans were put forward by the Hampshire-based National Air Traffic Services (NATS) in May last year.

Parish leaders in Minstead discussed the possibility of declaring independence in a bid to prevent planes from entering the airspace above the village.

They claimed that a village in Belgium had used similar tactics to prevent a new runway being built at Brussels airport.

NATS says the scheme will enable air traffic controllers to safely handle a greater number of flights as well as reduce delays.

A spokesman said: "I suspect that people in the New Forest will notice absolutely no difference."

For more detail see today's Daily Echo