National community groups deliver stark warning to Prime Minister: Aviation reforms risk silencing communities and any chance of equality compared to the significant benefits requested by aviation
Representatives of 22 national community and environmental groups today attended 10 Downing Street to hand-deliver a letter to the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, warning that proposed aviation reforms could strip residents of any meaningful and fair route to an independent review of airspace change.
Sally Pavey, Chair of CAGNE, said:
“This Bill risks giving communities the worst of both worlds: more decisions made over their heads, with no independent way to review them.”
“If there is to be an independent ombudsman in the Clean Water Bill, and passengers and airlines already have one, then there must also be one for the impacts of airspace change.”
The groups say the Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill [HL], currently before Parliament following its first reading on 1 September, would hand sweeping new rule-making powers to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) while weakening the ability of communities for equality and independent scrutiny to appeal airspace change decisions that affect their homes, wellbeing and daily lives for them and their children.
Campaigners argue that the proposals would leave the CAA — a statutory body funded by the aviation industry — acting as decision-maker, regulator and final arbiter on changes that can reshape communities overnight without any independent scrutiny.
They are calling on the Prime Minister to back an independent aviation ombudsman to oversee the airspace change process and give residents a fair, transparent and credible right of appeal outside the CAA.
The groups stress that this is not an anti-aviation protest. They recognise the need for a safe, efficient and modern aviation system, but say the current Bill risks putting industry convenience ahead of public accountability, leaving families (nationally) on the ground to live with the noise, sleep disruption, health impacts and loss of amenity caused by concentrated flight paths that the CAA would be permitted to impose.
Liberal Democrat MP for Horsham, John Milne said:
“I am pleased to support the delivery of this letter to Downing Street and to make the case for an independent aviation ombudsman.
“This is not about opposing aviation; it is about basic fairness. When major decisions are taken that affect people’s homes and wellbeing, residents should have a genuinely independent route to raise concerns outside the Civil Aviation Authority. Ombudsman protection exists in many other sectors. Aviation communities deserve the same safeguard.”
Tim Johnson Director of AEF, a signature to the PM letter said:
“Residents should not be forced to accept life-changing flight path changes imposed over their homes with no independent appeal. We are asking the Prime Minister to stand up for communities from Kent to Newcastle and beyond by supporting a proper aviation ombudsman outside the CAA.”
Attendees at Number 10 on behalf of the 22 national community and environmental groups included:
Sally Pavey – Chair of CAGNE (Gatwick Airport area) 07831 632537
Philip Jeffery – East Twickenham Heathrow Campaign (Heathrow Area) 07770 381512
John Stewart – HACAN East (City Airport area) 07957385650
Florence Long – Aviation Environment Federation (internationally) 07821871274
John Sadler – Campaign to Protect Rural England London 07791479426
John Milne MP for Horsham, West Sussex john.milne.mp@parliament.uk
And other MPs
Signatories of the PM letter –
- CAGNE – Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions
www.cagne.org - Aviation Environment Federation – international
www.aef.org.uk - HACAN – London Heathrow
www.hacan.org.uk - HACAN East – City Airport
www.hacaneast.org.uk - GALBA (the Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport)
www.galba.uk - Aircraft Noise Action (Newcastle)
www.aircraftnoiseaction.com - No Airport Expansion – national
www.noairportexpansion.org - Bristol Airport Action Network
www.bristolairportactionnetwork.wordpress.com - Campaign to Protect Rural England Surrey
www.cpresurrey.org.uk - CPRE London
www.cprelondon.org.uk - CPRE Sussex
www.cpresussex.org.uk - CPRE Kent
www.cprekent.org.uk - CPRE Hampshire
www.cprehampshire.org.uk - CPRE Lancashire
www.cprelancashire.org.uk - Luton and District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise
www.ladacan.org - Farnborough Noise Group
www.farnboroughnoise.org - Teddington Action Group – London
www.teddingtonactiongroup.com - Friends of the Earth Southampton
www.groups.friendsoftheearth.uk - People Against Intrusive Noise – Luton
- East Twickenham Heathrow Campaign
easttwickheathrow.uk - Parish Councils Airport Association – 28 Town and Parish Councils in the Bristol area
www.pcaa.org.uk - South-West Essex Fight the Flights (SWSXFTF)