§ Mr. WellsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received the report of the Stansted noise preferential routes working group; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyMy noble Friend Lord Brabazon has received the report and is arranging for it to be published. It should be available early next month. My noble Friend will arrange for copies to be placed in the House Libraries.
The group endorses the present policy of concentrating aircraft along routes overflying the smallest number of people and recommends:
- (i) a change to the route which goes to the south and west of Bishop's Stortford which would move it from its present position roughly halfway back towards the line proposed by the Department in December 1987;
- (ii) no change to the other routes presently being flown but with revisions to instructions to pilots to improve track keeping on several of these routes;
- (iii) an early change to pilots' instructions, introducing a different turning point for non-jet aircraft on the Bishop's Stortford route, both to provide some relief from overflying of the town by these aircraft and to assist preparation of appropriate instructions for (i) and (ii); and
- (iv) further measures aimed at assisting better track keeping and avoiding overflying of noise-sensitive areas around Dunmow, Thaxted and St. Elizabeth's Home.
My noble Friend is minded to accept the proposed change to the route around Bishop's Stortford. However, moving a route to relieve someone of noise means someone else will suffer. There will therefore be further public consultation and the further views of local people will be taken into account before he decides whether any substantial change should be implemented.
My noble Friend is arranging for an exhibition of the proposals to be held as part of this consultation. The exhibition will open at Dunmow on 7 March, moving thereafter to Thaxted, Sheering and Bishop's Stortford. Full details of dates and opening times will be publicised in due course.