Our Aim
You may have seen the Airport’s plans for a new terminal to handle the huge increase in passenger numbers. This inevitably means more aircraft movements and more noise pollution. LBA have also submitted plans to changes to the restrictions around night time flights, which will inevitably mean more flights during our sleeping hours.
We are not against Leeds Bradford Airport expansion. We accept that air traffic is going to increase over time, but we believe the Airport should grow in a manner that minimises those who are affected by noise pollution. After all, this is only what the Regulations actually stipulate!
We also want to object to the Airport’s plans to alter night time flight restrictions as we believe it lead to more flights during our bedtime hours.
Lack of Concern for Local Residents
The Airport’s previous Airspace Change Plan was rejected and one of the reasons cited was because the Airport failed to consult properly with the local communities. Had they consulted properly with Burley and Menston residents, they would have found widespread unhappiness at the noise pollution caused by jet aircraft roaring over our 2 villages.
Current Situation
Aircraft taking off are supposed to stay within a swathe known as the Noise Preferential Route (NPR) and are meant to stay within the swathe which passes over the least populated areas, so as to minimise the noise pollution impact.
As it stands 80% of take offs fly directly between, or over, Burley and Menston. Aircraft often track towards the NPR’s (Noise Preferential Route) northerly edge or beyond, so they fly directly over Burley with all the noise pollution and the jet exhaust emissions that brings.
The current Noise Preferential Route is a legacy from an era when the airport’s air traffic movements were a only fraction of what they are today. At that time, Burley and Menston were much smaller at a time when, crucially, Military Airspace Restrictions heavily influenced Take Off Routes.
Doubling the numbers – doubling the noise?
The Airport is planning to increase passenger numbers from the current level of 4 million to over 7 million by 2030. That means a huge increase in flight numbers over the next 10 years, so clearly noise pollution is only going to get worse. Much Worse! And Burley and Menston will take the brunt of that!
The Solution
Military Airspace Restrictions no longer apply, so we believe the main driver for take off routes should be minimising noise pollution.
Aircraft should take off in a northerly direction, instead of turning and flying over Burley and Menston, on a route that means a huge reduction in residents affected by noise pollution.
Please click on the link below so we can ensure that the Airport and the Authorities listen to the views of Burley and Menston.