§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether he will outline the action which has been taken to check the detailed lists of incidents which have been supplied by two residents of Walnut close, Stretton. either directly or through the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton, showing substantial numbers of cases where Tornado aircraft fly directly over their houses rather than in accordance with the approved flight path;
(2) whether he will make a statement on the level of complaints (a) to RAF Cottesmore and (b) to his Department, from residents of Walnut close Stretton, Leicestershire, about Tornado aircraft flying directly over the houses, contrary to the approved flight path; and what action is being taken to prevent this nuisance.
§ Mr. FreemanResidents of Walnut close, Stretton, Leicestershire, have since August 1985 submitted 78 complaints to RAF Cottesmore and five to the Ministry of Defence.
RAF Cottesmore has checked the lists of alleged overflying of Walnut close and while it can confirm that the figures more or less reflect the number of aircraft in the air at the time, it is not possible in retrospect to establish whether or not their flight paths took them over Walnut close.
It remains the policy to the station to fly the circuit agreed with my hon. Friend and local residents, (as acknowledged in my letter of 23 April). However, even experienced aircrews' are unable to hold the course exactly because of the wind factor. Action taken to prevent the nuisance caused includes ending night circuit flying, modifying landing procedures to reduce reverse thrust noise, and modifying the circuit pattern for runway 23 to avoid specifically overflying Stretton.