REDBRIDGE: Council tells Newham: "We should have been consulted over flights plan"

3:00pm Tuesday 9th February 2010

By Sam Adams

REDBRIDGE Council has complained neighbouring Newham that it should have been consulted over plans for a huge increase in flights over the borough.

In a letter published on the Fight the Flights website, Redbridge Chief Executive Roger Hampson told the leader of Newham Council - Sir Robin Wales - that his authority had gone against planning rules by failing to consult its neighbouring borough on proposals to expand the number of take offs and landings at London City Airport.

He said Newham's decision in July 2009 to allow the number of flights from the airport to rise to 120,000 a year would have a negative impact on residents in Redbridge - and that the council should have conducted a 'full consultation process' with the borough beforehand.

He said: "Members asked me to convey to you their concern at the lack of consultation between our authorities in connection with the recent planning decision to increase the number of take offs and landings at City Airport.

"Clearly the two matters of flight paths and City Airport expansion have become related issues in so far as the impact on Redbridge is concerned and this has had anegative impact on residents of Redbridge. My Council does not believe that sufficient attention was given to the coupled effect of these changes on Redbridge in making a decision. Clearly, the impact of the proposal to increase the number of flights ought to have been considered in tandem with flight path changes.

"Members believe that this information should have been sought and sent to Redbridge. Under the Town and Country Planning General Development Procedure Order 1995 the procedure for consultation between neighbouring authorities where land of a neighbouring authority is affected is for the deciding Local Planning Authority to send the application and related documents to the neighbouring planning authority.

"I understand that this procedure was not followed because Newham planning officers felt that the actual movement of flights beyond taking off and landing at the airport was beyond the scope of the planning application and a matter for NATS.

"However, Members feel that the change in flight paths has had an adverse impact on Redbridge and this was relevant to the application for increased aircraft movements. Therefore, the full consultation process between planning authorities ought to have been followed with the provision of all relevant information.

"Clearly, this council would appreciate your views on what matters were taken into account in deciding the application and assurances that any further applications which could result in increased movements from City Airport over Redbridge is subject to the full consultation procedures between planning authorities."

Fight the Flights say they were given the letter following a Freedom of Information request.

The group, which opposed more air traffic over areas including Wanstead and Leytonstone, has been given the go ahead to take their legal challenge against Newham Council's decision to grant City Airport's expansion plan to the High Court.

Redbridge Council decided to oppose the expansion plan at a meeting last November.

A spokeswoman for Newham Council said: "We have given a detailed response to this letter. At present, there is court action which is being proceeded with so it is not appropriate to comment further at this stage."