Manston winces in the glare of publicity

The Iran Air Fuel Fiasco has been an international PR disaster for the airport. As Maxim PR (the airport's own PR company) says on its website: "You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep".

One consequence of this shambles is that all Manston's customers will be watched more closely in future, which may not please all of them.

Charles Buchanan's comments in this BBC article make it clear that it is the airport's desperation for money that led them into this geo-political minefield, and that they're giving up this revenue stream very reluctantly. Incidentally, this story makes a lot more sense if you replace the word "ethics" with the phrase "public relations"...

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New hub airport for the south-east

Vince Cable and Alan Willett back Thames Estuary, Paul Carter backs Essex.

A Thames Estuary airport has won heavyweight backing from Business Secretary Vince Cable and one of Kent's most respected figures. With Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne expected to announce today that the government is taking more interest in the controversial plan, former Lord Lieutenant of Kent Allan Willett says it would be a wonderful opportunity for Kent.

The businessman and philanthropist who stepped down as the Queen's representative in August, believes that a new 'hub' airport for the county would transform the economy. Mr Willett, 75, the founder of a multi-million pound company Willett International, said:

"We need skilled jobs and, by God, you build an airport and you get lots of skilled jobs. Kent needs something like that.

Meanwhile, Mr Cable told business chiefs at Leeds Castle:

"I don't have anything against it. If it happens, it will probably solve a lot of problems. If it's feasible and private investors are willing to put lots of money into it, and the problems of birds, radar and over-lapping flight paths with the Dutch can be sorted out, I would have thought there's probably a good reason for it."

Kent County Council and Medway council have previously opposed the plan, preferring airport development to be at Manston. But KCC leader Cllr Carter today conceded there was a "very good business case" for a new airport while adding:

"What has to be talked about is the opportunity for an airport on the Essex side of the Thames."

kentonline 29th Nov 2011

Desperate times call for desperate customers

In the glare of the floodlights at a remote Home Counties ­airfield the crew of an Iran Air passenger jet set about a discreet spot of sanctions ­busting. The bizarre sight of the Tehran-bound plane has become a regular event as it refuels at one of the UK’s smallest airports so the scheduled flight can return to Iran.

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Today's the Day!

The No Night Flights meeting is today (Friday) at 7pm in Chatham House School, Chatham Street, Ramsgate.

Unvarnished truth. Straight answers. Facts. All the stuff you don't get anywhere else!

Great public speaking

Just when you thought the world was going to Hell in a handcart, here's an excellent four minutes' worth of 24 carat common sense, out loud, and in public. Enjoy.

This is from the recent KIACC meeting. If you want to see and hear more good stuff like this, come to the No Night Flights meeting on Friday 25th November, at 7pm in Chatham House School in Chatham Street, Ramsgate.

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Good Luck!

Firstly, we apologise for being unable to attend the meeting on Friday 25th.

We live in Beltinge and have noticed the increased air traffic on their landing approach to Manston. We do not appreciate being woken in the middle of the night or agree with the airport manager's estimate of how many local people will find employment at Manston with night flights.

Good luck with your campaign.

Regards J&J

NOT the longest runway

There is an urban myth that keeps popping up along the lines lines that Manston has the longest runway in the UK (or Europe, depending on how mis-informed the speaker is). It doesn't.

(I'm told by people who know about these things that modern aircraft, being more efficient, don't need very long runways anyway.)

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Sandy Ezekiel is innocent

unless and until...

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Former Thanet council leader Sandy Ezekiel has been arrested on suspicion of fraud and misconduct in public office. Mr Ezekiel, who represents Cliftonville East ward for the Conservative Party, was arrested on 5th October. He was interviewed by police at his home.

Mr Ezekiel, 58, said he was unable to discuss details of the allegations for legal reasons, but confirmed he had been aware of an issue since May. He said:

"There is no wrongdoing on my part. This is the kind of thing you have to put up with if you are involved in local politics, it's as simple as that."

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Night Flights: Public Meeting

The No Night Flights campaign group are kick-starting the public consultation on Manston's night flight proposals by organising a series of public meetings.

The first will be at Chatham House School hall between 7pm and 9pm on the evening of Friday 25th November.

There will be more meetings later. If you would like one of the meetings to be in your neighbourhood, just drop us a line. If you can provide a hall or meeting room full of people with questions, we'll bring some people with answers.

Come along on the 25th to find out what Manston's night flight proposals will mean for your neighbourhood, and to find out how you can help the campaign against night flights.

Bring a friend, bring a neighbour, but best of all bring your ideas and suggestions.

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Chatham House School, Chatham St, Ramsgate CT11 7PS

What it’s like living with City Airport

Think before you fly

In 2009 Newham residents Dot and Barry Palmer were invited to give a speech at City Hall about life under London City Airport. The airport has been granted planning permission to further raise the limit on the number of flights – from 73,000 to 120,000 per year. [This is Charles Buchanan's legacy - he is proud of having got this through without a Public Inquiry.]

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Manston: there's no fine print to read

The new night flights proposal from Manston contains just two rules that matter: how many planes, and how noisy. What will happen when Manston breaks the rules?

Absolutely nothing.

Manston has removed all the penalty clauses from their proposal.

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Worst Thanet movie ever...

Well, as the caption says, thank God it's only a movie...

It is just a joke, right?

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Paul Carter: Emperor of Kent

Katherine Kerswell "Group MD" of KCC has left her £197k post. [Oh, no she hasn't! Oh, yes she has! Oh, let's see what KCC's press release says. Oh, let's not bother.] Initial rumours had Paul Carter as Leader and MD - probably not legal, and certainly not advisable. Later rumours had it that the post may simply be left vacant, as a money saving option. Either way, Cllr Carter will be the biggest fish in the pond for a while yet.

It appears that Ms Kerswell was doomed as a result of ruffling too many feathers in her reorganisation of KCC, so the Tory back-benchers conspired to oust her. Her pay-off is too large for anyone to talk about.

Another interesting idea being put about is that the recent KCC Tory leadership contest was decided on the basis of which candidate looked most likely to return Ms Kerswell to the strawberry fields of Northamptonshire. Looks like that's one pledge Paul Carter has delivered on... [rolling updates on this story...]

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Sanctions busting at Manston

Many of you have been wondering why the state airline of a pariah nation regularly visits a failing airport in the corner of England.

A while ago, I was told that Iran Air come to Manston to refuel, which struck me as a "reasonable reason" but a woefully inadequate explanation. Things are now becoming clearer...

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Urgent need for environmental assessment

I subscribe to your Newsletter which I find very informative. I would like to raise some questions about what involvement the Environment Agency (EA) have in these developments.

In my view, based upon past experience with Industrial Planning issues, the EA should be involved. Indeed I think they should be involved as part of all the planning issues and meetings. There are far too many environmental issues at stake for them not to be actively involved

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Campaigners anger at bid to introduce night flights

Airport owners have been accused of trying to "pull a fast one" after revealing new plans for night flights over Herne Bay. Controversy has boiled for the past two years over the policy, with Manston Airport owners Infratil keen to boost the number of night flights at the Thanet airport.

Under the current agreement the airport is not allowed any scheduled flights between 11pm and 7am. But in a new revised proposal submitted on Friday, Infratil says it will limit any flights between 11.30pm and 6am to less than two a night and will comply with a strict noise quota.

But the policy leaves them free to fly as many planes as they want - unrestricted by noise limits - between 11pm and 11.30pm and 6am and 7am.

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Support from CPRE Protect Kent

Thanet District Committee

Matters have not been all quiet on the eastern front. A number of issues have surfaced — or re-surfaced — within the District. The most significant is the proposal for night-flights from Kent International Airport, Manston.

This is a subject which has featured for some time as a dark storm cloud over Thanet, ominous and threatening but never quite ready to release its anger. It now appears that the storm is about to break.

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Flybe says UK's domestic air travel boom is over

Flybe has declared an end to the boom in domestic air travel as the regional airline reported a deepening drop in demand for British routes.

The Exeter-based carrier runs domestic services which include Manchester to Norwich and Aberdeen to Gatwick, but the fallibility of its business to UK demand has been underlined by two profit warnings this year.

Flybe avoided another surprise on earnings on Wednesday as it published first-half results, though an increase of pre-tax profits in the six months to 30 September of £8.2m to £14.3m had been forecast to be significantly higher at one point this year. Before the profit warnings, Flybe had been expecting to make £36m.

As well as the poor profits performance, the results contained a further admission of weakness in the UK market. Flybe said winter bookings were down 1% compared with last year, confirming a deterioration of sales on top of an already poor outlook. Only last month Flybe had forecast a 1% increase in winter bookings.

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Labour denies night flight U-turn

For myself, I think the idea of a "whipped" vote (when members are formally ordered to toe the party line) is an affront to democracy. Each councillor's first duty is to the residents of their ward, and if that conflicts with party policy, then the residents' interests should win every time.

That said, there is no practical way of telling whether a vote has been informally whipped, with the usual mix of sticks and carrots. And there's always (thankfully) some bloody-minded/ruggedly independent individuals who simply won't do what they're told.

Finally, I do wish politicians wouldn't say things like "People will have to trust us" - it's guaranteed to raise both chuckles and hackles.

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Thanet Movies

Charlie Buchanan And The Chocolate Factory

The Manston With The Golden Gun

Merry Christmas, St Lawrence

The Spy Who Loved Margate

Laura Sandys: Tomb Raider

From Ramsgate With Love

The Bayford Ultimatum

Thanet Is Not Enough

Casino Royal Sands

Dial M For Margate

The Quexorcist

... any more?