PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use:
Hyslop Welcomes Outright Rejection of Edinburgh Airspace Proposals
Local constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the decision made by the UK Secretary of State for Transport not to ‘call in’ Edinburgh Airport’s Airspace Change Proposals as they did not meet the appropriate criteria. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have now informed Edinburgh Airport that they have decided to formally reject the Airport’s Airspace Change proposals.
Fiona commented,
“Having worked on this issue representing my constituents for some years now, I very much welcome the UK Transport Secretary’s decision not to ‘call in’ Edinburgh Airport’s Airspace Change Proposals and that the CAA has now formally rejected the Airport’s plans set out. I know that this will be a relief to local residents.
“The consultation survey Edinburgh Airport put out in summer 2017 clearly showed that more than half of all respondents registered negative feedback to Edinburgh Airport’s overall proposals. The CAA has based its decision to reject the airport’s proposals on a view that Edinburgh Airport submitted a proposal which does not accord with the material that was provided to stakeholders in consultation and this speaks volumes about Edinburgh Airport’s approach.
“The current system for airspace change is not fit for purpose and wouldn’t be acceptable for land based planning so it makes no sense that the flawed system would acceptable for the skies. I will continue to work with Hannah Bardell MP as she seeks those changes at Westminster.”
Hannah Bardell MP also commented saying:
“The decision by the UK Secretary of State for Transport not to ‘call in’ Edinburgh Airport’s Airspace Change Proposals as they did not meet the appropriate criteria is entirely the correct one.
Fiona Hyslop MSP and I have worked tirelessly for our constituents on this issue and whatever your view may be on airspace change and new flight paths, having a proper regulatory framework which has local communities at it’s heart is vital.
In the debates I’ve held, letters I’ve written, meetings I’ve had and parliamentary questions I’ve asked this has always been my goal.
I’m very pleased that after the work I did with the local community and Edinburgh Airport there is now a local noise board set up. It’s vital that local communities engage with that and that they have their voices heard.
When Fiona and I met the former UK transport Minister some 2 years ago we also asked him to set up an Independent Aviation Noise Association as recommended by Lord Davies in his report. The new organisation will be called the ‘Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise (ICCAN)’ and I am proud that the work Fiona and I have done has led to this organisation being set up, meaning a proper framework, real progress and a better deal for communities.”
ENDS