#Manston #nightflights
We are totally against the extension of the time frame during which night flights are to be allowed.It is bad for our health and well-being and will do nothing to create a significant increase in jobs at the airport.
The present no-flights time frame of 11.00 pm to 7.00 is frequently not observed. We have been awakened by flights at 01.30 am, 04.30 am and more. Even though there is a no night flights policy in operation, this is frequently broken.
What we want is a no night flights policy which is observed.
Click to have your say in the Public Consultation on Night Flights
I am against night flights between 11pm and 7am.
We are immediately under the flight path that comes it across Herne Bay and much of the time planes come over very low when flying at night using large freight craft many of which will be old and noisy.
It will not allow us or others in this area a restful night’s sleep and the same will go for everybody on the flight paths both here and in Thanet.
It seems very unfair that all these people suffer because of the attempt to keep an airport that self evidently is not used or needed open
Click to have your say in the Public Consultation on Night Flights
I wish to register my opposition to night flights from Manston Airport for the following reasons:
- Night flights create significant noise pollution (even more so than day flights because inevitably nights are quieter than the day time).Such noise pollution will ruin the sleep of thousands of people on the flight path. The European Court of Human Rights says that sleep is a human right
- Sleep deprivation is known to produce reduced ability to concentrate during the day, poorer educational achievement amongst children, increased health issues, increased the risk of accidents at home, on the roads and at work, and increased mental health problems
- The standard definition of night time, as used in the existing agreement, and throughout the aviation industry, and in national and international legislation, is 11am to 7pm but this proposal shortens this to 11:30pm to 6am. This shortens the night by 1.5 hours and so increases the time when there is no restriction whatsoever.
- Manston recently admitted that if they doubled the amount of freight they handle, and increased the passengers from 30,000 a year to ¾ million a year, they would create just 23 new jobs. We know from recent experience that major passenger airlines are unwilling to permanently use Manston because of the limited catchment area. It seems unlikely that we will ever see ¾ million passengers a year at Manston and so the number of jobs generated by freight alone is significantly less than 23. Is the sleep of thousands of Thanet citizens really worth less than 23 jobs? I do not believe so even in these very difficult economic times.
- Tourism is still a major employer in the area. How many people will want to take a short break to an area knowing they will not sleep? Inevitably this will mean hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and other attractions closing and jobs being lost. The number of jobs lost will, I believe, be significantly higher than those gained by allowing night flights.
- In these days of increased automation increased flights, either passenger or freight, do not mean increased jobs. Many jobs in aviation, e.g. air traffic control, are done many many miles away from airports.
- In recent years we have seen a significant number of people relocate to Ramsgate and the surrounding areas from London and others buy second homes. These individuals have brought their wealth into the area. How many will wish to stay if they are deprived of sleep.
- If Manston wishes to increase its freight capacity then it should use its day slots first before even considering night flights.
- The proposal has no fines or penalties if Manston breaks the limits so why should they even think about sticking to them?
- Infratil have linked night flights to the viability of Manston. This is an error. Manston’s future as an airport and major employer depends on passenger flights and we have seen that major airlines realise the catchment area simply cannot support the required number regular passenger flights for profitability.
I strongly believe that night flights at Manston have more disadvantages to Thanet and its population than advantages.