Luton Airport expansion: Harpenden Town Council submits views against plans

4:20pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Rebecca Perring, Reporter

Harpenden Town Council has submitted its views against proposals to expand Luton Airport by double its size.

At a meeting on Wednesday the town council agreed their submission to Luton Borough Council and stressed concerns on behalf of Harpenden residents including aircraft noise, road and rail congestion and more night flights.

Town Mayor, Councillor Nicola Linacre said: "The operator argues that aircraft fleet modernisation will mitigate the noise from more flights yet easyJet is currently modernising its fleet with larger, more powerful and noisier aircraft.

"If we don’t have quieter planes, then extra growth in aircraft movements and passenger numbers shouldn’t be allowed."

In its submission, the town council also proposed setting limits to restrict any further expansion in night flights, between 11.30pm and 6am.

Luton Borough Council’s application would see 18 million passengers pass through the airport every year.

Chairman of the council’s airport working group David Williams said: "There is simply is no reasonable justification for scheduled short haul aircraft movements at night such as an easyJet flight that arrives from Ibiza at 2.20am.

"Luton cannot be allowed to become London’s low cost airline night flight airport of choice.

"As the operator’s priority is to grow the daytime, scheduled and charter business, the town council has argued that it should halt night time freight flights that are a peripheral part of its business and a major source of disturbance and complaints."

To view the planning application visit: www.eplan.luton.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=MF0KDNKG72000

Comments(1)

Lee West says...
5:21pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Taking into account that Harpenden is situated 5 miles away from the airport it does astonish me that some and most certainly not all of your residents complain of aircraft noise. I reside in South Luton directly under the flight path but yet, I and my neighbours are able to sleep every night without disturbance.
This therefore begs some questions: Why do Harpenden residents suffer from extreme aircraft noise and why is there no mention of aircraft noise when selling properties in the town?

In response to Harpenden Town Mayor, Councillor Nicola Linacre, can she enlighten me and others how she concludes Easyjet are to be purchasing bigger and noisier aircraft? Where did she gain this information from? How come she as Mayor has knowledge that is not even known to those who have a vested interest in either the airline or the airport? If she has any credibility, I hope she will answer this question if not all?

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree