Craig Tracey MP for North Warwickshire & Bedworth and Dame Caroline Spelman MP for Meridan joined forces to urge Birmingham Airport Chiefs to extend their consultation period for flight path changes. These changes will affect residents in both constituencies including in the Curdworth, Water Orton, Whitacre Heath, Nether Whitacre and Hoggrill’s End.
The MPs wrote to Airport COO David Winstanley stating:
“Both of our constituencies are hugely affected by the Birmingham Airport flight plans; particularly the proposed new route in the Flight Path Changes – North (Runway 33) consultation… we strenuously request that you extend the overall consultation date of 9th October 2017 so that the revised feedback event can take place still allowing for time after for our constituents to complete their consultation forms. Due to the Airport’s approach to the consultation and the fact that you were amending the proposals during the consultation process itself, we feel it is important that our constituents be privy to the most up-to-date information to enable them to respond accurately to the flight path changes.”
Now, following pressure from the MP’s, Birmingham Airport has now extended their consultation deadline to 6th November.
The decision has been welcomed by Craig Tracey MP who commented:
“We are obviously pleased that the airport has listened to us and have rightly given residents more opportunity to engage with this consultation process. If you live in the Curdworth and Water Orton area you can have you say by going to https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/about-us/community-and-environment/flight-path-changes-north-runway33/consultation-document/.”
Mr Tracey has also asked Airport chiefs to consider a different interim flight path which would take the planes further away from the villages and residential areas, this is now being looked into by the airport.