Campaigners angry over late night flights
15.09.10
Campaigners have accused the Department of the Environment (DoE) of inaction after it emerged there were 278 late night flights breaching the curfew at Belfast City Airport in the first 7 months of this year, the Belfast Telegraph reports. This is a 32% pro rata increase on last year’s 359 late night flights.
Under a planning agreement between the airport and the DoE, flights should only operate between 06:30 and 21:30, except in ‘exceptional circumstances’. Residents’ group Belfast City Airport Watch (BCAW) accused the DoE and minister Edwin Poots of not enforcing the agreement.
Dr Liz Fawcett, chair of the BCAW, told the newspaper: ‘The department has a legal responsibility to enforce this agreement, but it is simply sitting back and letting the airport breach it. This is a complete abdication of the department’s responsibilities.’
She said the group will be raising the late night flights and enforcement of the planning agreement with the Assembly’s environment committee. She said: ‘We hope the environment committee will hold the minister to account over this matter.’
A planning spokesman responded to the comments, telling the newspaper: ‘The agreement provides for delayed scheduled flights during extended hours of 21:31 and 23:59. The department has no legal powers to impose a system of fines or penalties.’
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