"Fresh
moves in night flights curfew"
Belfast Telegraph - 14th February 2004
DOE planners are taking legal advice on the issues surrounding the curfew on night-time flights at Belfast City Airport, it can be revealed today.
As the Belfast Telegraph reported on Friday, the airport's bosses have asked for a review of the current planning agreement which limits its operations.
No specific proposal for a change to flight-time hours has been made. But a review process is likely to be dominated by a fierce debate over whether later arrivals should be allowed.
A DoE spokesman today confirmed that advice "including legal advice" was being sought in connection with the airport's request.
Under the current planning agreement, scheduled flights are only permitted between 6.30 am and 9.30 pm.
Other planning controls also in force at the City Airport include limitations on runway length, annual air transport movements and the number of aircraft seats provided.
Senior UUP politician Sir Reg Empey has described the request for the planning agreement review as the "first formal step" towards a bid for later flights.
Sir Reg backs residents of east Belfast and Holywood in their opposition to a lifting of the curfew.
"If the airport thinks they are going to have a walkover on this, they are going to be very mistaken," he commented.
On the other side of the debate are business interests who want a later evening flight from Heathrow.
The looming controversy on restrictions at the City Airport follows the publication in December of a Government White Paper on the future of air transport across the UK.
It invited the Northern Ireland authorities to re-assess the planning agreement "if and when they are so requested by the airport operator".
The White Paper said "suitable" environmental controls were required "given the large number of people who live in the vicinity and are affected by aircraft noise".
But it also stated that the City Airport has "an important role as a transport gateway in the economic life of Northern Ireland".
The document
added: "As is the case with many airports elsewhere, we recognise that
a balance needs to be struck between these conflicting environmental and economic
factors."
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