HC Deb 10 July 2002 vol 388 cc978-9W
Vernon Coaker

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what decisions he has reached about his proposed circular to local authorities for use in considering applications for development within public safety zones; and if he will make a statement. [69219]

Mr. Jamieson

Since the issue of the draft circular for consultation in 1999 my Department has held extensive discussions with local planning authority and airport representatives, and we are grateful for their assistance in refining our proposals. We are today publishing the definitive version of the circular for application in England.

Meanwhile, following a recent improvement and updating of their model, the Department's consultants have remodelled the risk around the airports which already have public safety zones. In the light of that work the Department is today notifying the English local planning authorities and airports concerned of the grid co-ordinates of redefined public safety zones. In addition, in the light of the modelling work now completed, we are establishing public safety zones for Sheffield city airport, as previously anticipated, and for Cambridge and Norwich airports. We shall establish public safety zones at other airports for which modelling work suggests that this would be justified.