Richard Fuller, Member of Parliament for North East Bedfordshire, has submitted two amendments to the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill which is due to have its report stage and third reading in the House of Commons next Monday. The Bill aims to modernise airspace to reduce noise and emissions and help to deliver quicker, quieter and cleaner journeys for passengers.
The first of Richard's amendments aims to stop all consultations on airspace changes underway at the time the Act is passed, with a new consultation started. The second amendment aims to make sure any new consultations take into account the ‘externalities’ of any airspace change.
Giving context to these amendments, Richard said:
These amendments are important in relation to the recent consultation on changes to airspace use by Luton and Stansted airports that will see flight paths re-routed over a greater part of Bedfordshire.
The planned expansion of Luton Airport, which is the driver for the flight path changes, will be to the financial benefit of London Luton Airport and its landlord, Luton Borough Council, who will gain from considerable increases in their revenues.
Meanwhile, the residents of the surrounding towns and villages will pay the cost in terms of more air pollution, more noise pollution and greater congestion. These costs are the “externalities” and they are not currently recognised in the accounting by government, something I raised with the Minister at second reading of the Bill. My second amendment seeks to address this imbalance.
The amendment text can be found here.
