Good morning
I am contacting you, either because I know you personally or I understand that you may have concerns about the outcome of Bromley Council's meeting on 25 March where councillors agreed 'to extend in principle the operating hours for Biggin Hill airport'.
I'm sorry that this is not a personal note.
I urge you, if possible, to attend the meeting advertised below, this Monday 1 June (Keston Village Hall, 7pm) to hear that we still have a voice. (book your place using info@flightpathwatch.co.uk)
I attended the meeting on 26 May. The meeting was conducted by a group of residents who have concerns about the environmental impact of the extended hours. They have planned their own survey of residents under the flight path and half a mile to either side. Their target is to have a response from at least 60,000 residents from a total of 200,000 who live under the flight path. You can help.
I committed the Downe Residents' Association to carrying out this survey in the parish of Downe over the next few days. Time is critical as the council executive meet on 10 June and the full council on 29 June.
I am looking for volunteers to survey the street/area where they live. The forms should be completed by each person 18+ in the household. I can get the forms to you.
If you are away from Downe at present I can send you the survey form by email, to be completed (scanned?) and returned to me.
(The attached map shows the result of the Council survey - I count only 16 'dots' in the area between Shire Lane and Luxted Road - can it be that only 16 people in Downe responded?) The main red area coincides with the flight path.)
The residents' alliance - FlightPathWatch need support and funds to continue with this work. They need experts in the legal field and also are seeking a 'noise expert".
You can support them by completing a joining form and committing to a modest subscription (at least!) of £25 for family membership (see www.flightpathwatch.co.uk)
If you are not able to attend the meeting - please see "Facts and Fears" below, and the 'Main Issues' attachment which illustrate a small part of the presentation.
I look forward to hearing from you
many thanks
Zoe Knight
Chair
Downe Residents' Association
Facts
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1 Proposal to extend hours at the start and end of the day. New hours would be (old in brackets) Monday to Saturday 0630-2300 (Monday to Friday 07:30-21:00) and Sunday 0800-2300 (Saturday and Sunday 09:00-20:00)
2 New international flights (to & from America) being advertised (see airport website)
3 Milking Lane Farm has been purchased by Regional Airports Ltd (in Sept 2014)
4 Andrew Walters is the owner of the Biggin Hill airport lease - he previously was responsible for developing Southend airport (now an Easyjet base)
Fears
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1 Biggin Hill "master plan" mentioned at Biggin Hill Airport Consultative Committee (9th AGM 17 Jan 2013) by Cllr Stephen Carr
2 London Borough of Bromley Residents' Federation minutes (23 March 2103) - Mayor of London / GLA "anxious to expand the engineering facilities around the Biggin Hill area"
3 Bonjour La France website states - "No commercial airline flies to Biggin Hill yet, but Flybe and CityJet have announced a service soon" - see "http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/airports_london_biggin_hill_airport_59815_165.aspx
4 Will Curtis (MD Biggin Hill airport) said on 19 May 2015 (B & CA Show News) - "the combination of the hours and the planning policy is a game changer"
5 Report - URS Planning for Growth in Bromley - Biggin Hill Study - Final Report (Feb 2015) - extracts from the conclusions:
"There is evidence that the parts of the Green Belt may be suitable for deletion/alteration"
"In order to achieve the ambitions set out there will need to be a transformational change in the area. This would require major pump priming by the public sector to improve and address infrastructure constraints and the development of a positive planning and wider policy framework that supports these ambitions"
"the opportunity may be afforded to deliver corridor urban traffic control, through a system such as SCOOT or MOVA (traffic control methods). This will allow greater management of traffic flows through the area, allowing the system to respond to fluctuations in traffic"
"These proposals have the potential to cause substantial harm to the conservation area...."
"The evidence suggests a challenging environment in which to achieve economic growth at Biggin Hill"
See the full report (100+ pages)
http:/www.bromley.gov.uk/download/downloads/id2186/planning_for_growth_-_biggin_hill_study
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