HC Deb 20 July 2004 vol 424 cc133-4W
Mr. Kenneth Clarke

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether an assessment has been made of the environmental impact of the proposed new noise preference routing(a) pole and (b) Trent 2 over southern and western Nottinghamshire for aircraft using Nottingham East Midlands Airport; [183978]

(2) whether the proposed flight path (a) pole and (b) Trent 2 over southern and western Nottinghamshire for aircraft using Nottingham East Midlands Airport has been agreed; [183979]

(3) whether he will impose time restrictions on using the flight path (a) pole and (b) Trent 2 over south west Nottinghamshire for aircraft using Nottingham East Midlands Airport to ban night flights between 11 pm and 6 am. [183980]

Dr. Howells

These proposed airspace changes have been the subject of an environmental assessment by Nottingham East Midlands Airport (NEMA). After careful examination of the proposals, the Department is satisfied that they provide a safe and effective solution for all airspace users in the East Midlands, while mitigating the environmental impact to the greatest extent possible. Officials have conveyed this response to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). It will then be for the CAA to agree the changes with NEMA.

In order to mitigate the environmental impact of the new POLE Standard Instrument Departure route and following consultation, NEMA have given an undertaking that the route will not be used between the

Project Company Length of Road (km) 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04
M1-A1 Yorkshire Link Ltd. 30 — 640 676 716 743 769
A69 Road Link (A69) Ltd. 84 489 494 488 505 526 537
A19 Autolink Concessionaires (A19) 118 — 1565 1611 1637 1698 1753

hours of 2200 and 0600. The Northwest bound Trent route has been realigned to avoid over-flight of Derby, which would represent a significant net environmental benefit.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations have been made to him from councils in Nottinghamshire about the proposed new flight paths over southern and western Nottinghamshire for aircraft using Nottingham East Midlands Airport. [183981]

Dr. Howells

None directly, though I am aware of representations made to the Civil Aviation Authority and Nottingham East Midlands Airport (NEMA) by various local authorities in this connection.