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Birmingham Airport anti-Noise Group

Newsletter #4
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November 2002

Deadline 30.11.02
Government Airports Consultation UK: Your Last Chance To Have Your Say

The Department of Transport officially closes its Consultation on the Future of Air Transport in the UK on 30th November 2002. The outcome will decide air transport policy for the next 30 years.

Act Now! Get your response in by 30th November 2002. Complete the standard letter enclosed but if you can, write in your own words as this carries more weight. Write to:

Consultation on the future of air transport - Midlands,
Dept. for Transport,
Zone 1/28c Great Minster House,
76 Marsham Street,
FREEPOST LON 17806,
London,
SW1P 4YS.

Free copies of the Consultation documents and the questionnaire can be obtained by phoning 0845 100 5554 or via www.airconsult.gov.uk. Don't let the wording of the questionnaire trick you into opting for what seems like the least damaging scenario. The real debate is about the economics that prop up a dirty and damaging aviation sector. We need to be challenging the assumptions on which the Government's growth forecasts are based.

Lobby your elected representatives

The Government needs to hear the real alternatives . . . from YOU

A Tale Of Two Councils

Solihull rejects second runway outright . . .
On Tuesday 5th November, after four hours of debate, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council passed a resolution that whilst they did not expect Birmingham Airport to close, they could not justify the deterioration in Solihull residents' quality of life that a second runway would entail.

The Council's regeneration, environment and leisure overview and scrutiny board had previously recommended in a meeting lasting 11 hours that all the Government's plans (a wide spaced second runway, a closed spaced second runway and maximum use of existing infrastructure at Birmingham) should be thrown out by the Council and Cabinet.

The Council's debate was broadcast live from the Council Chamber on the web and can still be viewed at www.solihull.gov.uk. Over 200 people crammed the Civic Suite at Touchwood Court (with 100 more spilling over into the library) to demonstrate and watch the debate on screens set up for the occasion.

. . .while Birmingham passes new runway plans "on the nod"
On the same day, in a full Council debate forced by the Liberal Democrats, Birmingham City Council voted 71 to 15 in favour of seven recommendations supporting the “Wide Spaced” second runway option at Birmingham Airport. To their credit, the Hodge Hill Councillors Mike Nangle, John Clancy and Anita Ward all abstained. Cllr Nangle gave a statement that neither he nor his colleagues could support the recommendations.

At the Cabinet meeting the day before, the airport debate (stuck on to the end of the agenda like an afterthought) was over in ten minutes with no dissent from the floor (with the exception of Cllr John Hemming, Lib Dem Group Leader). No vote was taken so we can't report which Birmingham Councillors were in favour of expansion and who weren't. Leader Albert Bore simply asked if the assembly was in favour of the recommendations and a handful of Councillors grunted their approval. Yes, it really was that bad. The Wide Spaced runway option was effectively passed on the nod.

Seven members of the public were present (two of whom left before the airport matter was raised) - not surprising when you consider that this crucial event received little publicity from the Council.

BIA's "Fourth Way" Is Fooling No-One

Coinciding with Birmingham and Solihull Councils' key Cabinet meetings, Birmingham Airport put forward "The Birmingham Alternative" - its own vision of expansion in the form of a shorter Wide Spaced second runway.

This runway would be 600m shorter than that proposed by the Government in the Consultation document, would not operate at night, would spare nearby conservation areas and reduce the number of buildings demolished from 150 to 41.

Once again we find ourselves being lured into settling for what seems like the least damaging option without engaging with the real issues behind what is being put before us. Yet another scenario for expansion at Birmingham or elsewhere is not what is called for. The Birmingham Alternative is no alternative at all. It is simply the airport playing the same game as the Government Consultation - take for granted the assumption that growth in air transport infrastructure is economically and socially beneficial and restrict the debate to one about the scale of development or site preferences.

Heathrow Night Flights Case - Government’s Appeal Heard

Heathrow residents are confident of victory following the UK Government’s appeal hearing in the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (EHCR), Strasbourg on 13th November. Last year the ECHR ruled in favour of local residents that night flights from Heathrow Airport breached their human rights to undisturbed sleep and a peaceful life.

Before 17 judges the attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, argued that as it was up to national governments to balance individuals’ rights and the country’s economic interests the ruling fell outside the Court’s remit. For the attorney general to appear in person is a reflection of how seriously the Government takes the issue - it fears a rush of compensation claims and legal challenges should a ban on night flying be effected.

The noise caused by the night flights is substantially in excess of the World Health Organisation’s guidelines for avoiding sleep disturbance at night. The intervention of British Airways in support of the Government was particularly hypocritical given their recent advertising campaign that urged First Class passengers “Don’t stand for sleepless nights” and highlighted how “sleep deprivation causes memory loss, muddled thinking and visual impairment”.

Campaigners are hopeful that the Grand Chamber will uphold the Court’s previous decision. The verdict, however, is unlikely to be announced before Christmas.

Public Meetings Call On Residents To Act

BANG! and SOAR (Solihull Opposing Additional Runways) have been holding public meetings in a bid to raise awareness of the ongoing Consultation and give local people a clearer picture than the DfT's documents do of what the proposals for Birmingham Airport will mean for them.

On 9th October the Mirfield Youth and Community Centre, Lea Village played host to a meeting of around 80 local residents and a panel of speakers from the Council, Friends of the Earth, BANG! and SOAR. Chris Crean of West Midlands Friends of the Earth gave a rousing introduction outlining the scenarios of expansion at Birmingham and calling on all present to get their hands on the Consultation documents. Bickenhill Councillor Jim Ryan gave a moving account of his fight to save his constituency from ruin by a second runway. Hodge Hill Councillor Anita Ward condemned the plans for airport expansion and Gill Smith from the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) warned of increased noise and pollution levels. Len Goodyear's maps and presentation brought home the immense scale of the proposals. Guest of honour was John Stewart, Chair of Heathrow Airport Campaign Against Noise (HACAN) who explained the flaws in the Government's Consultation and the heavy public subsidies that lie behind its forecasts of growth in air travel.

A lively question and answer session followed. Sheldon Liberal Democrat Councillor Mike Ward was challenged on the matter of the Lib Dem Group's decision to support the Maximum Use option for Birmingham Airport. Although Maximum Use sounds less damaging, it is really just a precursor to the Wide Spaced option and will eventually lead to a second runway - Director of the Airport Brian Summers admitted as much himself at Solihull Council's Scrutiny Board Meeting on 24th October.

Finally, Chair of SOAR Dave Cuthbert made an emotional plea for all present to act on what they had heard and not give in to apathy once they had left the building.

Around 90 residents attended Cockshut Hill School, Yardley on 23rd October. This meeting focused on the 22 local schools that would sit under the flight path of the wide spaced second runway. George Williamson, a spokesman on behalf of the then Education Secretary and Yardley MP Estelle Morris, delivered a message of support from the Minister. Also present was Liberal Democrat Councillor John Hemming who confirmed his support for the Maximum Use option. Other speakers included Cllr Ryan, Brett Rehling of Birmingham Friends of the Earth, and Len Goodyear.

On 31st October the Public Meeting at Beaufort Social Club, Hodge Hill reminded attendees that the Consultation deadline was looming and only one month remained to get their responses in to the Government. Our regular speakers Cllr Ryan, Brett Rehling and Len Goodyear were joined by Gill Smith of CPRE and Hodge Hill resident Albert Yeomans.

Apologies to any of you who went along to Plantsbrook School, Sutton Coldfield on 14th November expecting a meeting but sadly with a week to go the School cancelled our booking on, they said, the advice of Birmingham Council's Education Department. Apparently, rumours of "trouble" at our previous meetings have been circulating. Such rumours are utterly groundless as anyone who attended our previous meetings can testify.

We booked an alternative date with Town Junior School but they cancelled on us too, citing the same reason as Plantsbrook for their decision. By this time we were getting suspicious (not to mention out of pocket from the 4000 flyers we had had printed! - they will be reused where possible or recycled) so we contacted the Education Department for an explanation. They told us that it was up to the schools to accept bookings or otherwise and they denied trying to influence the schools in question.

So it seems that Sutton missed out on a public meeting for no good reason at all. BANG! went to the press to counter rumours of trouble at our meetings (indeed, several Birmingham Councillors who were present had complemented us on how orderly our meetings were). We are still following up the matter of our expenses with the Education Department.

A huge thank you to all our speakers and everyone who attended and donated money to our collection buckets (in all we raised £150.00 for our campaign). Thanks also to everyone who distributed leaflets and helped out on the night. Special thanks to Ron Dowdeswell for his excellent chairing of the meetings.

Hodge Hill MP Backs Campaign
On 15th November BANG! and SOAR met with Hodge Hill MP Terry Davis. Mr Davis, himself a resident of Hodge Hill, reiterated his opposition to any expansion at Birmingham Airport in the form of new runways or extended flying hours. Mr Davis also urged all his constituents to respond to the Consultation and promised to asked questions in Parliament on the matter.

Take Action!
Petition Trip to London - Wed 27th November 2002

Solihull Opposing Additional Runways (SOAR) have been gathering names for a petition to be handed in to the Department for Transport along with the SOAR's official response to the Consultation. To date they have collected approximately 3000 signatures opposing any expansion of Birmingham Airport.

Coaches have been booked and we want as many people as possible to come along on 27th November to register their objection to airport expansion with the DfT in person. Tickets are £8.00 each. To book your place on the coach please send cheques payable to SOAR c/o 9 Oakfields Way, Catherine-de-Barnes, Solihull, B91 2TR together with your name, address and a contact telephone number.

The timetable for the day is as follows:

For further details contact the SOAR Action Helpline 0121 711 3629 or email Info@soar-campaign.org.uk

Join the Anti Noise Convoy Sat 23rd Nov
To mark the final week of the Consultation, Birmingham Friends of the Earth, BANG! and SOAR will be leading a procession of vehicles from Valley Road, Solihull to the Boldmere Centre, St. Michaels Road, Boldmere. The route will take us under what would be the flight path of Birmingham's Wide Spaced second runway. The procession will be lead by a truck carrying loud speakers from which a recording of aircraft noise will be sounded as a warning of what to expect if the second runway goes ahead.

Assemble on Saturday, 23rd Nov, at 9.30am on the open grassland by Streamside Way, Solihull to finish at the Boldmere Centre, St. Michaels Road, at approx. 1.30pm. Contact BANG! (details below) for more detailed information on the route if you want to take part. SOAR will be repeating the action in Solihull on Sun 24th Nov - phone 0121 711 3629 for more info.

One Year On

On 21st November it will one year since the public meeting in Mirfield Centre when the idea of a Birmingham residents airport campaign group finally took shape and the founding members of BANG! met for the first time.

One year on and BANG! has well over 400 official supporters - a phenomenal achievement. On behalf of everyone at BANG! I would like to thank all of our members and volunteers for their hard work and support over the last twelve months. Here's to the next thirty years!

James Botham, Secretary

And After 30th November . . ?

It is vital that the debate on the future of air transport continues long after the Consultation deadline.

Those of you who have posters in your windows - keep them up. Keep writing letters to your Councillors, MPs and the papers. We mustn't allow the momentum of this campaign to slide after 30th November. BANG! will continue to challenge current air transport policy and pursue proper compensation and mitigation for people affected by Birmingham Airport, past, present and future. From all at BANG! have a good Christmas and New Year.

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