One of the groups on the committee overseeing operations at Manston airport has quit, claiming the airport's owners have been inflexible over environmental concerns.

The Kent International Airport Consultative Committee is made up of representatives from communities around the airport, including parish and district councillors.

Last week Malcolm Kirkaldie announced the resignation of the Manston Action Group (Mag). A statement from Mag read:

"The consultative committee has been treated with contempt and, in consequence, has failed to exert any influence over the legitimate environmental concerns of local residents. We have no time to waste on pointless meetings, and we no longer want our membership of the committee to constrain us in countering the pro-night-flight propaganda campaign which is being conducted through the local media."

Mr Kirkaldie believes that noise monitoring at the airport falls short of the statutory level, something denied by Thanet council and Infratil, which owns the airport.

IoT Gazette 1st Jul 2011