Cut out the middleman

Looks like Manston may want to filter any responses it receives in the night flight consultation process.

A couple of our readers are shocked and horrified. Not only has Manston somehow managed to insert itself into the consultation process (by inviting people to send their responses direct to the airport), but it appears that anything the airport receives will not necessarily be sent to TDC.

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sleeplessinramsgate writes:

Shocked by the idea that consultation feedback could be left on Manston Airport's own website, I took a look at it:  Although the general impression is that comments made in this way will form part of the TDC consultation, this is not the case.

At the bottom of the page there is a link to the Airport's normal comments page (where we frequently leave reports of night noise which are duly ignored) - no mention is made that this information will be shared with TDC.

If you click on:  Download the public consulation newsletter from Manston Airport (pdf 171 kb). Be part of Manston Airports future - we want your views, at the top of the page you will go to the newsletter, which states:

"Please take a moment to let us and Thanet District Council know your thoughts on our proposed night-time flying policy and the future of Manston Airport. Post this form to Manston, Kent’s International Airport, PO Box 500, Manston, Kent. CT12 5BL. Alternatively, email consultation@manstonairport.com AND consultation@thanet.gov.uk Your comments MAY also be forwarded to Thanet District Council." (my capitals).

This is clearly misleading as any unfavourable comments on the proposal may not be shared with TDC.

Comments

[MS G]

Dear HBM
Are you going to take this up with the Local Government Ombudsman?

[Mrs Gabriel]

Presumably this terrible mess means that the consultation should be extended as until this confusion is sorted the process of consultation (as people have already left messages on the Manston website) is totally undemocratic.
If we were in another part of the world our wonderful legal and political system would call it corruption.

[sleeplessinramsgate]

This has been taken up by Cllr Alan Poole, who appears to be responsible for this 'consulatation',and I understand that the link to the airport has now been removed from TDC's website. Views will only be considered if submitted directly to TDC. Of course this should have been the case from the beginning - but moving the goal posts at this stage is hardly democratic!

['eastcliff]

Thanet District Council Night Flights Public Consultation

Day 7 Thanet Gazette tells public where they can send or leave their comments on night flights at Manston. This includes sending responses to Infratil!

Day 11 A Chatter of Ramsgate residents are shocked to see that the public's responses are going to be sucked into Charles Manstons PR machine, never to see the light of day again.

Day 12 Cllr Alan Poole, Labour's media magician, is told to pull the plug on TDC's website links to Charles Manston's website and ordered to disregard any consultation responses from the public that Infratil have.

Day 14 Friday 17th Feb 2012. If Pooley remembers to tell the Gazette in time it can now publish the correct consultation submission adresses. However 2 weeks of the consultation/credulation are now completely Thunted!

['eastcliff]

Day 12 Wednesday 15th February 2012 of the meagre 28 days of the public consultation. Not only a public who hasn't been given the basic facts about night-flights so that they can make an informed decision, but a public who has been largely ignored.

Unsurprisingly I received no Valentine's messages, but the force is making it clear that I should have faith in the consultation process.

Not only do I hope the Gazette is informed of the changes to the consultation submission addresses, but it would be quite a good idea if someone told Charles Manston too as his website suggests that Infratil is still in bed with the Council's "Night-time" Freight Fright Flights consultation.

[only fools]

I do believe that the gazette although they were on our side some time ago but maybe it's to do with the advertising they may have got from the airport for the flybe routes,i sometimes think their on the airports side.

[Icarus]

Anyone with any sense will know to leave the comments with TDC surely?

[Dave]

It looks as though TDC Night Flights Consultation has cocked-up for the third week running as the Gazette is still telling people to send their consultation responses to Charles Manston which he may or may not forward to TDC. TDC has already decided to disregard any public responses that come from Infratil...where do you get a sweep and a carpet when you want one!

Also in this issue of the Isle of Thanet Gazette, Friday 17th February, Charles Manston's "not a flight of fancy" is cheerfully illustrated with a photograph of people checking in to go on holiday (It must be an old image as it is faded at the edges or holiday makers are represented by actors and models) It is captioned with some platitude about a flourishing airport, prosperity and economic picture, It is faced on the opposite page with the usual pic of Charles with a perma-grin on his face.