Luton Airport takes a step closer to Option 3a

Luton Airport has announced that it has formally applied to the Directorate of Airspace Policy (a division of the Civil Aviation Authority) for a new flightpath, dubbed Option 3a, over Leighton Buzzard, Aylesbury Vale and southwest Herts. If the application is processed smoothly, the flightpath could be implemented by January 2006.

PAVAN wrote to the airport before Easter (no response as yet) asking once again for details of the safety issues the airport says prompted their search for a new route. PAVAN says that it’s not about safety, it’s about expansion, as Luton continues to add more routes and attract more passengers thanks to Government subsidies on aviation fuel.

PAVAN will continue to lobby at the highest level, however, because Luton Airport had a previous application (Option 4 in 2000) thrown out by the DAP.

In addition to plane noise from Luton , the area also suffers from flights taking off from Heathrow Airport , so PAVAN visited BAA at Heathrow in April to discuss the matter. The good news is that Heathrow has expanded its noise monitoring capabilities and can now identify their planes over the Vale. The surprising news is that BAA were surprised their planes cause so much grief so far from the airport.

Villagers are therefore encouraged to complain to Heathrow whenever they are disturbed by one of these planes (generally four-engined flying north). Phone 0800 344844 or email noise_complaints@baa.com.

A Judge ruled February 25th 2005 that the Government was wrong to consult on two options for additional runway capacity at Luton Airport and then announce in its Aviation White Paper that it supported a third option on which it had not sought the public's views. The Government had consulted on a new parallel runway or a realigned runway but ended up supporting extending the current runway. Another consultation process will now have to be undertaken.

Various local authorities and pressure groups (LADACAN and Stop Stansted Expansion) took the Government to court, claiming the Aviation White Paper was illegal owing to several irregularities in the consultation process (SERAS). They said the consultation should be repeated.

The Judge ruled that the White Paper was legal on the whole and should stand, apart from two issues:

1) The options for expansion at Luton, and

2) It was also wrong for the Government to decide exactly where Stansted's second runway was to be built. The local communities must be consulted on several options before a decision is made.

Regarding Luton, it is a victory for democracy as much as for the environment. And there may be legal implications on other consultations: indeed, for Option 3a (proposed new flightpath over the Vale). As at February 21st, Luton had not submitted its formal application to the Directorate of Airspace Policy (a division of the CAA) for Option 3a, and we assume they are studying the Judicial Review for any legal obstacles.

PAVAN has consistently stated that Option 3A will remove one of the roadblocks to unconstrained expansion. In December 2004, Luton reiterated its intention to grow to the maximum extent possible for a single runway, 6 times the passengers flown in 2004:

"...In December 2003, Government published its long-awaited White Paper The Future of Air Transport, which finally provided the aviation industry and UK plc with a clear, national, strategic framework for the development of air travel over the next 30 years.

The White Paper clearly outlined the crucial role London Luton can play in the delivery of future runway capacity in the South East. Government has challenged all airport operators to deliver the policies enshrined in this document – we relish this opportunity.

Government forecasts suggest that there is the demand to justify expansion of Luton to the potential of a full-length single runway (circa 30mppa), in the period up to 2030, even with two new runways at other South East airports/ We endorse this forecast and since publication of the White Paper we have actively commenced preliminary consultation...". 

For the full release see www.london-luton.co.uk.

Milton Keynes and South Midlands Strategy Response to consultation