Diary Date: Friday 30th November 2012 at 6.30pm. As it says on the invitation:
Members of the public are invited to attend this meeting and will have the opportunity to ask questions after the business of the Committee has been dealt with. Hear from Thanet Council and the CEO of the Airport. Hear about the work of KIACC. Make your views known.
KIACC Cllr Gideon concluded that the consensus was that this is the wrong time to review the S106 agreement, and that it should be revisited as and when the airport sale goes through, or a planning application is received. It would be marvellous if the AWP adopted the motto used by hundreds of thousands of scouts and guides across Britain - "Be Prepared".
AWP, Alasdair Bruce, Bob Grove, Jo Gideon, John Worrow, Julie Marson, Kim Gibson, Mike Harrison, S106 Manston, Night flights, TDC BBC 25th May 2012
Plans for night flights from Manston Airport in Kent have been opposed by Thanet District Council. At a meeting on Thursday, the Labour-controlled council voted against all night flights to or from the airport. Charles Buchanan, the airport's chief executive, said:
"We are disappointed the council is not supporting the airport as much as it could."
In March, owners Infratil announced plans to sell Manston and Glasgow's Prestwick Airport.
Bob Bayford, Charles Buchanan, Clive Hart, Consultation, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Prestwick, WHO Infratil, Manston, Night flights, TDC 
TDC listened, and said "No" - will Mr Buchanan get the message?
On the face of it, it looks like a straightforward example of democracy at its best.
If only.
Bob Bayford, Bureau Veritas, Charles Buchanan, Clive Hart, Michelle Fenner, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Sandy Ezekiel, Will Scobie Infratil, Manston, Night flights, TDC 
TDC have drawn up a draft response to Manston's proposal for night flights. Their response is informed by advice from independent experts, and guided by the result of the recent public consultation.
The answer is "No", and on Thursday they'll be voting to confirm that as their official position.
This may be your chance to let them know how you would like them to vote.
Democracy Night flights, TDC 
A crunch vote on night flights will take place this month as Thanet council prepares to give its final views. Councillors have to choose whether to support plans for up to eight flights a night between 11pm and 7am.
Last week, the Labour cabinet was accused of being "anti-airport" when it agreed that, in response to the airport's consultation, it would not support night flights.
Charles Buchanan, Clive Hart, Martin Wise, Parsons Brinckerhoff Manston, Night flights, TDC 
Night flights are not "make or break" for Manston airport, it will struggle regardless - that's the claim from Phil Rose of the No Night Flights group, which is campaigning against proposals to introduce scheduled flights between 11pm and 7am from Manston airport.
Mr Rose poured scorn on claims by the district's Conservative group that ending restrictions would improve the airport's fortunes.
Bob Grove, Charles Buchanan, Ian Driver, Jack Cohen, John Worrow, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Tom King Infratil, Manston, Night flights, TDC 
This is the film of the demonstration outside Thanet Council on May 17th by the campaigners against night flights at Manston airport. They argue that night flights disturb their sleep. Hence the bed and the night attire!
Janet Fielding, Petition, Thanet Watch Manston, Night flights, TDC 
The unutterable shambles of the AWP meeting has given cause for complaint. A fully-fledged formal foot-stamping has landed with a thump at TDC Towers and should give a few people there pause for thought - a few snippets are reproduced below for your enlightenment.
Firstly, there is the problem of Mr Buchanan being given the opportunity to offically heckle the Council's draft report.
If simply by applying to address the working party results in one party with vested interests being able to speak in chambers, then this should be widely known. In this specific instance, I wish to know why officers did not think to invite other interested parties.
AWP, David Green, Hannah Thorpe, Jo Gideon, Julie Marson, Zita Wiltshire Manston, Night flights, TDC 
Like pushing your own face into a bacon slicer. Slowly. It was shambolic to a degree I would once have found shocking.
Charles Buchanan had been invited to speak by Cllr Gideon (chair), at Madeline Homer's suggestion, to "clarify" a number of points relating to the AWP's draft response. This led to some confusion as to whether the current draft report would need to be returned to Parsons Brinckerhoff for rewriting in the light of whatever Mr Buchanan might be about to say. Eventually they decided to play it by ear, and if only minor adjustments were required, they could go straight to the next stage of the process (Overview & Scrutiny) without the AWP needing to meet again.
[An aside: WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
AWP, Charles Buchanan, Clive Hart, David Green, Hannah Thorpe, Jo Gideon, Madeline Homer, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Peter Campbell, York Aviation Manston, Night flights, TDC 
Congratulations to Herne Bay for a clear-cut response to the night flight proposals - "No thank you!".
If you have never heard of Peter Vickery-Jones, he is a Herne Bay councillor and holder of the Transport Portfolio for Canterbury City Council. In this article he complains that "Local activists have criticised this council for failing to respond to Manston's proposals". Unthinkable!
Herne Bay, Peter Vickery-Jones Manston, Night flights, TDC More than 2,000 residents took the time to air their views as part of the council’s public consultation on proposals for regular night-time flying at Manston Airport. The majority were opposed to the implementation of regular night-time flying, with approximately 73% opposed, 26% in favour and 1% not clearly stating a position.
Clive Hart, Consultation Manston, Night flights, TDC Well, the results are in for Canterbury district, and the answer is a clear "No" to night flights.
Of the 230 responses, 80% were against Manston's proposals.
So, where are the results for Thanet?
CCC, Consultation Manston, Night flights, TDC 
Manston airport sale "a chance to introduce proper planning"News that Manston airport is up for sale is confirmation that the local infrastructure is not sufficient to sustain an airport, according to one of the most respected campaign group in the country.
Manston’s New Zealand owner, lnfratil, announced it was selling the site because it wanted to “refocus its investment profile" and concentrate on retail, production and supplying gas and electricity. The move puts 123 jobs at risk.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England says the sale is an ideal chance for Thanet council to put into force planning regulations protecting the interests of residents
Infratil, Manston, Night flights, TDC It was nothing to do with night flights, it was an investment decision (surprise, surprise), Labour feels vindicated and criticises Tories (surprise, surprise).
Airport boss calms jobs fears after Manston is put up for saleManston airport boss Charles Buchanan has insisted it will be "business as usual" at the airport, following the shock announcement of its sale last Thursday.
A statement from the airport said it was a decision that had arisen from operator Infratil "refocusing" its investment profile.
Charles Buchanan, Clive Hart, PwC Infratil, Manston, Night flights, TDC 
Delusion has finally been swept away by the onslaught of reality and Infratil are throwing in the towel. This has been a long time coming, and Nostrildamus predicted it in November 2010.
Manston Airport has been put up for sale. Bosses at Kent International Airport told staff at 10.30am yesterday (Friday) morning. The shock decision was made by owners Infratil. The New Zealand-based company also plans to sell its airport at Prestwick near Glasgow.
Charles Buchanan, Complaints, Planning, S106, Sale Infratil, Manston, Night flights, TDC 
The already deprived residents of one of the poorest local authorities in England may soon be deprived of sleep, too — thanks to the ineptitude of Thanet council.
Thanet's Manston airport, owned by Kiwi conglomerate lnfratil, wants to operate flights throughout the night — mostly old, noisy freight 747s. The airport's boss, Charles "Manston" Buchanan, says this will somehow help create more than 3,000 jobs, as well as, one presumes, raging insomnia for the thousands of council taxpayers who live under the flight path.
Charles Buchanan, Private Eye Manston, Night flights, TDC 
I've got a lot of time for the CPRE, and in particular our local branch - Protect Kent. They've got their heads screwed on, and their hearts are in the right place.
I joined them, and I encourage you to join them too. Your membership fees pay for their expert staff to do things like producing the response below. Read and enjoy... then join up!
CPRE, Consultation Manston, Night flights, TDC 
#Manston #nightflights
I would like to say at the very outset that I am AGAINST night flights in any shape or form, that is flights that arrive or take off between the hours of 11.00 p.m. and 7.00 a.m. from Manston.
Apart from the fact that everyone needs a good night’s sleep in order to function properly the next day, it is my basic human right as defined by the European Court of Human Rights.
I feel that no airport anywhere should be even allowed to contemplate night flying unless all daytime capacity has been fully exhausted. My understanding is that even London Heathrow is only allowed a minimum of night flights per annum and as we all know, this is one of the busiest airports in the world. Noise quotas should have no bearing on night flights. The simple fact of the matter is that if it wakes me up its too loud!
24/7, Consultation Manston, Night flights, TDC 
