FTF Meets the Challenge - Legal Fund Update

Fight the Flights is very pleased to announce that it has now met it's target for funding the legal challenge of Newham Councils decision to allow a 50% increase in flights at London City Airport.

We would like to thank the individuals, businesses and residents organisations who have given their time and/or donations to help us meet this target. We value your support.

The legal challenge continues to progress and as soon as a date is set for the judicial review by the High Court it will be posted on this site.

First East London Aircraft Noise Forum - Great Minds Share Ways Forward

Yesterday, at the House of Commons, the first 'East London Aircraft Noise Forum' was held.

The forum was hosted by Lee Scott MP, Ilford North and organised by Fight the Flights in alliance with HACAN. The forum's focus is to discuss and plan positive ways in which elected officials can work together on the issue of aircraft noise and how it impacts on their constituents. Ideas were shared on issues regarding the problem of increasing aircraft noise and changing flight paths over east London from London City Airport and also Heathrow flights.

The forum plans to meet on a regular basis in the future, by invitation to elected officials only.

Mayor's Question Time On London City Airport

Mayor answers to London

London City Airport

[Main question]

Question number	0236/2010
Meeting date	27/01/2010

Question by John Biggs

What, if any, work is the GLA, including functional bodies, doing on the environmental impact of London City Airport?

Answer by Boris Johnson

The environmental impacts of London City Airport are clearly an issue of concern for local people, highlighted during my recent public question time in Ilford.

The only environmental impact work I’m aware of that has been undertaken by the GLA and its functional bodies relates to potential noise impacts arising from the proposed expansion of the airport on the LDA’s nearby landholdings.

I am aware that the planning permission relating to the proposed expansion, which Newham determined, and which I have no powers of direction over, has been challenged. I understand Newham are awaiting a decision from the high court as to whether the current permission can proceed.

I support the view that the CAA should consult the residents of east London when undertaking the 12 month review required following the implementation of airspace design changes and the associated changes to flight paths affecting departures from London City airport.

London City Airport

Question by Murad Qureshi

Why did you not see fit to intervene on the expansion of City Airport?

Answer by Boris Johnson

I have no planning powers in respect of the airport’s ambition to expand its operations to 120,000 flights a year. However, after considering the economic and environmental information submitted with the planning application made by the airport to Newham Council in 2007 and clarifying any potential impact of the proposed expansion on the Thames Gateway Bridge, I decided that Newham Council was best placed to determine the application itself.

Roger Evans Listens & Puts Havering First

Yesterday, three of us from three different boroughs, went along to meet Roger Evans, GLA member at City Hall. Roger had kindly asked us along to present our argument against the expansion of London City Airport.

We hope we were able to convey to Roger not only our passion for our communities, but also our legitimate and grave concerns on the negative effects of expansion of London City Airport on South/East London and beyond.

Roger was exceptionally generous with his time with us yesterday, and he listened to the issues we raised. We could see that Roger cares about the residents of Havering and how future expansion and flight path changes may affect his borough, and he expressed his concern. We hope residents in Havering will feel able to approach Roger with their concerns, as he has invited them to do so on his blog. We all need to make the most of opportunities such as the one that Roger is offering for feedback and comments.

At the beginning of the meeting we had told Roger that if we were able to make him question at least one issue, which he had heard or been told, about London City Airport expansion prior to our presentation, then we would be very happy. We are happy.

Although we've thanked Roger privately, we'd like to thank him here too, for his time and consideration of the issues.

Bin The Extra Flights Boris! Flash Mob Boris - TODAY!

Come and give Boris a timely reminder tomorrow of what we think he, LB Newham and Hazel Blears should do over London City Airport's 50% expansion:

Bin The Extra flights

They ALL know that the disadvantages well outweigh the few 'claimed' advantages: what's more the disadavantages are those that are harmful to human life, to a healthy community and environment.

Those disadvantages cost the taxpayer far more than the airport puts through it's Jersey registered office each year.

Theresa Villiers Says No to Heathrow, But Yes to London City Airport?

Yet more hypocrisy from politicians. Apparently Theresa Villiers and co of the Conservative Party is dead against expansion at Heathrow, for health, quality of life and environmental issues. But it appears if the problems are transferred to East London, or other parts of the South East, it's perfectly fine!! Is this really going to turn into a West/East divide of cherry picking potential voters?

In The Times, Sam Coates reported that:

The Conservatives said yesterday that they were willing to expand airport capacity in the South East despite the party’s environmental opposition to a third runway at Heathrow.
Luton, City Airport or Southend could be allowed increased numbers of flights or an extra runway under the Tories, even though they argued against Heathrow’s expansion on the grounds that it could jeopardise the target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.

Hoon knows whose side he is on and it's not yours, it's big business!

Hoon has given the go ahead for Heathrow, third runway and all. So 700 households now know that the government is happy to let big business 'run over' Sipson, and disturb and affect the quality of life of hundreds of thousands of residents across London. This decision doesn't only effect the living, yes BAA and this government are happy to 'run over' cemetries too - well to be precise they will even move the local cemetary if it gets in the way of profit.

Planes are getting quieter they say? Why is it then that more and more of us that affected by Heathrow flights across the whole of London? East London is already disturbed by Heathrow flights with residents being woken at 4.30am. The ever increasing noise and pollution from aviation is growing - it is a collective affect across England. Green planes? It's all pipe dreams and about as genuine statement as 'strict and stringent noise and air monitoring'. Yes, we've heard this all at London City Airport -and their 'stringent operating and monitoring conditions' amounted to 10 years without consistent, reliable actual noise and air quality readings. Oh yes, and they also share the 'broken promises' theme with BAA. With this governments collusive relationship with the free loading, tax payer subsidised, aviation industry, allowing aviation expansion willy, nilly, at ANY cost it speaks for itself whose side Hoon and this government is on.

After yesterdays' gaffe by 'Baroness Vadera' stating that she could see 'green shoots' of promise on a day when around 8,000 jobs were earmarked for redundancy, we see Geoff Hoon, the Bufhoon take the word of the CBI's Jones and state 'I know which side I am on'. Yes, it is very clear which side Hoon and the cabinet are on, and that is not on the communities side at all, and clearly it isn't isolated to the aviation issue!

We're predicting things are really going to start to get interesting now - if anything the ridiculous collusive Department for Transport, the government and aviation are going to be in for a VERY rough ride over this very misguided decision along with their overall policies on aviation expansion across the country.

Well done to John McDonnell and those other MPs who have stood up and spoken up. This is just the beginning.

A Formidable FTF Is Awarded A Grant

We are very pleased to be able to report that Fight the Flights has been awarded a grant by the Manuka Club .

This will enable us to continue our work even more effectively within the communities affected by the proposed expansion of flights at London City Airport. FTF gives, and relies upon, the dedication and genorousity of residents with their time and skills. Our work is unpaid, but committed to the betterment of communities, on issues of quality of life, health and the environment which will be threatened by further flight expansion.

FTF has been working hard for almost a year to ensure that residents are aware of the application by London City Airport to expand, but also that the information they receive is accurate and the full implications of the proposed expansion are understood.

We have specifically been working with and advising residents on what action they can take, and providing advice and support aswell as being actively involved across the boroughs. We have raised a variety of issues around the planning application which would have otherwise have been ignored by LCA and Newham. In addition we have uncovered 7 years of London City Airports negligence to meet many of the conditions that were set out at the last planning approval, particulary of their failure to record reliable noise and air data. We, elected officials, and residents are now calling for a public inquiry.

FTF has connected community groups, residents groups and individuals to one another and has worked with them, and for them, to ensure that London City Airport and the London Borough of Newham's very unsatisfactory and unfair consultation/application process has been scrutinised and bought out into the open.

The Manuka grant will go towards printing, meeting room costs and other items which will assist the campaign in the communities. Our thanks go to the Manuka Club for recognising the contribution of the residents across East and South East London.