Councils voice opposition to airport plans

The six-week consultation on the proposals from London Luton Airport Limited (LLAL), which owns the airport on behalf of Luton Borough Council, ends on Monday, March 26.

Both Dacorum Borough Council and St Albans District Council say the have concerns over the impact of the proposals on residents, and about the level of detail supplied during the consultation.

In Dacorum’s letter to LLAL, assistant director of planning, development and regeneration James Doe said: “The council remains very concerned over the potential increase in aircraft movements over time, and their effects on levels of noise in and frequency of daytime and night flights over Dacorum.

“The council does not accept your claim that noise levels will necessarily decrease. In addition, no reference has been made in the supporting material to the consequences of the increase in community disturbance stemming from the greater frequency of flights.”

St Albans District Council described the proposals as “raising more questions than are currently answered”.

In its proposed consultation response, the authority’s spatial planning manager Christopher Briggs said: “There needs to be a robust, sustainable, long term approach to the growth of the airport. There is no evidence of such strategy.”

Responses to the consultation have also been sent in by campaign groups London Luton Airport Town & Village Communities Committee (LLATVCC) and Luton and District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (LADACAN).

North Hertfordshire councillor David Barnard said the proposals were “invasive aspirations” that would bring “massive profits to Luton at the woeful cost to its neighbours”, and encouraged residents to send in their comments before the deadline.

To have your say, visit www.futureluton.co.uk, telephone 0844 225003, or write to Freepost RSUB–UEZB–SYXJ, GL Hearn, 20 Soho Square, London W1D 3QW