Airport Noise 'Heard' At City Hall

Councillors at Belfast City hall have heard first-hand about problems residents from east and south Belfast have with the proposed expansion of George Best Belfast City Airport.

A delegation from the umbrella residents' group, Belfast City Airport Watch (BCAW), last night urged a specially-convened meeting of Belfast City Council's Town Planning Committee - to which all councillors were invited - to oppose plans which would allow the airport to significantly increase its operations.

Resident, Christine Savage, from the Templemore Avenue area, told councillors how the planes disrupt her sleep and that of her two young children.

Another resident who spoke about their personal experience was Don Melrose from the Parkgate area. He recounted how he was recently hit by a flying roof tile, which, he believes, was blown off by an aircraft that was coming into land at the airport.

Dr Liz Fawcett, Chair of BCAW's Steering Group, outlined to councillors the results of a survey of more than 400 individuals in areas affected by aircraft noise, mostly in east and south Belfast.

The survey found that more than three-quarters (78%) of the respondents said that aircraft noise affected their sleep and three-quarters (75%) of respondents said they often had to stop talking when a plane flew over because they couldn't be heard.

She also claimed that of the 157 respondents with children, nearly half (46%) said their children weren't getting enough sleep because of aircraft noise.

More than a third (34%) of those with children said their children found aircraft noise frightening.

Dr Fawcett said the group was delighted with the reception it got from the councillors: "A large number of councillors made the effort to attend the meeting, and they listened most attentively and with great interest," she said.

"The Council is one of only three bodies being consulted by the Environment Minister, prior to the decision he intends to make on his proposal to remove the airport's seats for sale or passenger limit - so the Council's view is really crucial on this issue," she explained.

The group's representative also said that she is concerned about the removal of the 'seats for sale' cap - a restriction that ensures the airport operates a mix of small, medium and larger aircraft.

She said that if that limit were taken away, there would be nothing to stop every plane being one of the larger ones.

The residents also urged councillors to oppose the airport's planned runway extension that is to be the subject of a public inquiry.

Meanwhile, a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) report into prior claims of a low flying plane in Belfast has found had not been possible to to conclude the reason for the damaged roofs as it was at the correct altitude.

The report followed claims that a plane had caused damage to roofs in Parkgate Drive, east Belfast on 8 June 2010.

The CAA said: "The flight profile was examined by an investigator and no anomalies have been identified."

See: CAA Flies Into Roof Tile Row

(BMcC/GK)