Airspace plans are ‘plane crazy’

Coupled with major expansion plans for Bournemouth and Southampton airports, that would mean far more flights at all levels over the National Park.

New Forest National Parks Authority (NPA) has already spoken out against expansion of Bournemouth Airport, which is to spend £32 million on an ambitious expansion scheme that could see passenger numbers triple to three million in 10 years. Southampton Airport's master plan envisages an increase in annual passenger numbers from 1.84 million in 2005 to more than three million in 2015 and doubling again to six million in 2030.

Now the NPA has strongly objected to NATS' proposals saying they "would result in some of the most tranquil areas of the New Forest being overflown by commercial aircraft".

"If the expansion of the area of controlled airspace over the New Forest is permitted (alongside the expansion plans at Bournemouth and Southampton airports), the authority believes the opportunities for quiet recreation and finding a sense of wilderness' in the National Park will be lost," said an authority spokesman.

The authority commissioned its own noise assessment, which concluded a greater area than now would be affected by aircraft noise.

"It is likely to cause a disturbance to the residents and also seriously affect visitor enjoyment."

The influential Council for National Parks (CNP) and the 140-year-old New Forest Association also object to the proposals to expand the air corridors.

David Murray, CNP transport campaigner, said: "The New Forest National Park is a vital green lung in the south east of England, where people can get away from the hustle and bustle and stresses of their modern lives.

"The tranquillity, that so many residents and visitors to the New Forest seek, will be seriously jeopardised if the plans to allow more planes to fly over the National Park are given the go-ahead.

"These plans mean that most of the New Forest would experience aircraft noise, which would make a mockery of its designation as a National Park.

"With concerns about climate change mounting, activities which would increase carbon emissions and damage the tranquillity of our finest landscapes should not take place."

William Ziegler, chairman of the New Forest Association, said: "It is with regret that once again our neighbours are disregarding the fact that their actions will detrimentally affect the special qualities of the New Forest."

Burley Parish Council is adding its weight to those opposing increased airspace.

Villagers, particularly those in the Bisterne Close area, have for many years complained about the number of aircraft overhead.

Parish council chairman Roger Hutchings said: "There seems to be a steadily increasing number of flights over the village.

"They seem to be occurring out of normal hours more often than they used to and we are getting an increase in the complaints level and we are concerned about the long-term plans, because they aircraft will come over here."

He said government policy is that flights over National Parks should not be allowed unless unavoidable.

"With Bournemouth Airport one side and Southampton Airport the other, they seem to be unavoidable," he said.

He was also concerned about the possibility of pollution to forest bogs and mires that are being restored.

Bransgore Residents' Association is campaigning for aircraft to keep to their flight path, over Thorney Hill and north of Bransgore village centre.

"More aircraft means a lot more coming across this area. It's inevitable.

"But that wouldn't be so bad if they kept to the flight paths," said a spokesperson.

"The people up at Thorney Hill are going to be more affected than those in Bransgore, but they are going over Bransgore as well, and they can't say they don't."

A new NATS tracking device is due to come on-stream in September to check whether aircraft are sticking to approved routes.