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Fresh doubts over City Airport runway extension
Saturday, 3 October 2009
A long-running row over George Best Belfast City Airport's plans to extend its runway intensified today as details emerged of the serious health and safety concerns the project would have on residents in east Belfast.
The Belfast Telegraph can today reveal the details of warnings sounded by the Eastern Health and Social Services Board (EHSSB) — now absorbed by the new Public Health Agency — over possible safety implications and the detrimental effect extending the runway would have on the quality of life of those living under its flightpath.
And it can be revealed that the EHSSB raised its concerns after it was omitted from the original Planning Service consultation on the controversial issue.
The airport has applied to extend its runway by 590 metres in the direction of Belfast Lough to accommodate larger planes from more foreign destinations — a move which has angered residents worried about noise levels.
Last month the airport launched an investigation after residents complained that vibrations from low-flying aircraft had brought tiles off the rooves of their houses.
The EHSSB contacted the Planning Service after it was left out of a list of statutory consultees whose views had been sought on plans to extend the runway. It has since made a submission to planners and a health impact assessment is also under consideration.
Correspondence between the EHSSB and Planning Service has been obtained by the Belfast Telegraph under the Freedom of Information Act.
In the correspondence the board pointed out that:
e Increased use of the runway would degrade the quality of life of people living under the flightpath.
e A longer runway could hamper rescue services in the event of an emergency landing.
e There would be an increased risk of bird strikes posed by a nearby wildlife sanctuary.
e The close proximity to major and dense housing areas would pose new safety risks.
e The airport could run foul of future EU noise and air quality regulations.
In a letter dated January 27, consultant in public health medicine Dr Paul Darragh told planners: “Normally on such a development we would expect to be contacted as statutory consultees or at least as a courtesy as the health authority for the area.”
He warned that modelling of air quality and noise should refer not only to current activity levels but also to future EU standards which are likely to become increasingly stringent. Dr Darragh also warned that the ends of the runway present problems for emergency services if a forced landing takes place.
“The inlet adjacent to Victoria Park (old timber ponds) contains very soft estuarine mud which would make rescue particularly difficult,” he said. “Similarly the sand on Holywood bank is very soft and again would be problematic for any rescue.”
Dr Darragh expressed concerns about air approaches to the runway over an area of dense domestic housing, its proximity to several top tier COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) sites and the risk of bird strikes posed by a nearby bird sanctuary.
“This project should take into account the complex environment in which it is sited and recognise that if approved there will be further demands from other airlines to use the extended facility.
“Increased use will inevitably degrade the quality of life of people living in the area of the flight path,” he said.
This week he said he had recommended that an independent health assessment should be carried out, and this has since been undertaken. “As a next step, this
assessment is being independently reviewed. The Public Health Agency has maintained throughout their submissions the need to ensure that local communities are engaged throughout the process,” he said.
The Planning Service said it had followed its normal procedure which was to consult with Belfast City Council’s health and environmental services department.
However a spokesperson added: “When it was drawn to our attention that the EHSSB wished to comment the Planning Service was happy to facilitate this. We are currently awaiting a response from EHSSB in relation to the Health Impact Statement which formed part of the additional information which was submitted in June 2009.”
Belfast City Airport said it had submitted a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment report to the Planning Service.
“Following a request from the Planning Service, the airport has also submitted a full Health Impact Assessment. The airport is fully compliant with strict Government regulations regarding safety and noise,” a spokesman said.
East Belfast councillor John Kyle said he was shocked that the Planning Service had to be prompted to seek a submission from the local health board and added that this indicated a “laissez-faire” attitude that was inconsistent with the significance of the development and the impact on the residents.
“Until we get detailed information on what future air traffic movements are going to be and the make-up of the plane mix, it's very hard for anyone to predict what the impact will be on the local community,” he said.
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If safety is so important at the airport why has BCAW got a campain aginst it??
If noise is so important why do BCAW want to stop planes flying higher over the houses?
if people hate under the flight path so much why are thet fighting to live in the streets of Mersy Street?
What is Section 5 Of the Health impact report??
Why has no one from BCAW ( save Aldergrove group) said that I am wrong??
The clock is indeed ticking Fiona!!
Posted by plane spotter | 13.10.09, 11:08 GMT
I would like to ask if BCAW Could publish on their web page the JUNE 2009 Health impact assessment section 5?
Or do they need to tell everyone that it does not exist??
Also can they also state to people where they can view this document in full??
Posted by non sciolist | 12.10.09, 10:29 GMT
If local residents had a meeting last week to air views on the airport who did they invite??
I did not get an invite and I do live under the flight path
Do you just tell the people that will agree with you?
And then only guest speakers that share your views?? ( looking for votes??)
How about a speach on how no schools or hospital are within the 65db noise contour or that only one school in belfast will not have a reduction in noise when he runway is extended or that more people cause harm to their children smoking in the home than than an aircraft flying out of the airport ( It in the enviromental report available at the planning office or the airport)
Yet again BCAW I call on YOU to name the larger jets
Posted by non sciolist | 10.10.09, 10:11 GMT
So BCA up over 3 % and aldergrove down again!!
The people are voting with their feet
Is this not a sign people dont want to treck miles from Belfast to fly??
Then news that people fighting for housing in East belfast under the flight path in the local papers .............
Come on BCAW spin this one .....Is this group trying to protect Aldergrove from a threat of economic failure??
Are the MLAs going to realise they are wasting public money asking for a PE
people want to fly from Belfast not 20 miles out side it?
Posted by planespotter | 09.10.09, 10:02 GMT
Frankieboy!!
The park in Park gate is not the same a Victoria park
Its not the one you saw on the news
You cant see ParkGate Cres from Victoria park!!!
If you were actuly in Victoria park you would know this
do more resarch in future if you want to spin a story
Posted by Victoria park Resident | 08.10.09, 14:04 GMT
Frank
What noise does a plane make when it is a bout to crash??
And how do you know whick one it was pulled the slates off??
The people in the street which is off the flight path any way dont know
With aer lingus removing most of their european flights then the in bound passengers will go to dublin and not visit the north
The chartere flybe do are not their flights so you cant say flybe go to europe!!
Posted by non sciolist | 08.10.09, 11:29 GMT
"The BCAW campain is just plaing in to the hands of Flybe who will start European flights only if Ryanair leave the city airport"
If FlyBE wished to operate such flights they already would. This summer they operated to Reus for Thomson and operate winter charters to Chambery Salzburg and Geneva for Crystal and Inghams
Plus the routes that Ryanair want to start from the city are already served by Easyjet and Aer Lingus from Aldergrove, so no more choice and no advantage for inbound tourism
Posted by Niamh Fitzpatrick | 07.10.09, 12:29 GMT
I was in Victoria Park on the day that the plane lifted the slates off the roof of a house in Parkgate Crescent. That plane was so low that I thought it was going to crash land in the Park and the noise that it was making sounded like a plane in serious trouble. Thank you Dr Darragh for raising our health and safety as an issue.
It's all very well for these so-called 'economics experts' to support Brian Ambrose, until you realise that we already have an international airport less than 20 miles away which Ryanair could fly from tomorrow, and any tourist wanting to visit us only has a 20-30 minute bus ride into the City Centre.
And 'D' is right about the jobs - Ryanair won't bring more, sure they're cutting jobs left right and centre. It'll soon be that their planes will be on automatic pilot and even flight crews will be axed!
Posted by Frank McM | 07.10.09, 09:17 GMT
The reason flybe dont want a runway extention is because they cannot go head to head with ryanair. Bmi are happy with the LHR route so they will not need to shout about it
The BCAW campain is just plaing in to the hands of Flybe who will start European flights only if Ryanair leave the city airport.
As for fuel tanks close to the air port look at Heathrow they have them under the final approach!!
If you are worried about polution in the area then you would need to close the Sydenham bypass also!!
And for jobs
Belfast needs them both directly and indirectly. Investment will do that
Posted by Plane sense | 07.10.09, 08:30 GMT
It's about time our local authorities took the risks of having an airport in such a densely populated area and so close to fuel storage tanks seriously.
The bottom line is that if that land was empty now and somebody went to Planning wanting to put an airport there they'd be told that the risks were too high and to get on their bike.
What were people thinking ever allowing Belfast City Airport to become an airport where 80 ton 737s and Airvus A320s and A321, carrying thousands of litres of jet fuel are taking off literally feet above thousands of homes in one of the most heavily populated parts of Belfast???
Congratulations to the Public Health Dept for having the courage to stand up to these corporate bullies!
Posted by J Robinson | 06.10.09, 13:58 GMT
What jobs? The only airline pressing for the extension is Ryanair, the same one that just eliminated all check-in positions.
Extension of the runway and expansion of the airport, and the increased numbers of holiday travelers who Ryanair hopes it will attract, would consequently minimise the effectiveness of Belfast City Airport as a business airport.
BCA is already overburdened, with no room for convenient drop-off and an arrival hall and departure area that feel less like an international gateway than a cattle feedlot.
The right choice would be to leave BCA to fulfill its mandate to efficiently service business travelers, while encouraging expansion at Belfast International, increasing competition there on transatlantic routes, and making that airport a viable gateway for the bigger spending visitors from the U.S., Canada and Asia. Let's have our airports work together in harmony. This sounds like a real forward-looking plan that would help all of Northern Ireland.
Posted by D | 06.10.09, 13:13 GMT
Is BCAW running out of straws to clutch at??
The reason so many people want a public enquiry is to make money for themselves and win votes wasting public money
You cant keep beating the public money will fund the runway drum
Public money will fund the MLA tea breaks during the PE!!
The rescue service at EGAC is well equiped for such unlikely events such as an accident and I might add they have everything and more to cope like all CAA approved airports
Do they not also work with the NIFRS who are one of the hardest working rescue teams in the ukand the NIAS who again are well tested for disaster? Its all to well to sit in an office and say how things cant be done and say how badly the rescue service will cope.
Anyway how deep is the mud? I Know!! about 2 feet deep, Or maybe those rocks are just floatig and how wide? about half the length of an aircraft
Posted by non sciolist | 06.10.09, 10:37 GMT
And who wants this extensions, bmi that has served Belfast either at the city or aldergrove for over 20 years? No. FlyBE the main operator at the city? No. Manx2? No.
Oh yeah, thats right, Ryanair that has only recently started operations there in the past few years.
Aldergrove is more than suitable for international flights. Let the city airport do whats its good at, regional flights to the UK mainland and Cork.
Posted by Niamh Fitzpatrick | 05.10.09, 22:07 GMT
Old news and quotes again
Does Dr Paul fix roof tiles as well?
Why not quote the bit that says a runway extention will reduce noise in homes and schools
Better close heathrow with all the resiovirs around it our
Aldergrove with those miles of bogs and what about liverpool with those mud FLATS??
Ps
Why are you waiting for a statement from Mr A anyway?
Mr B did one and thats why groups have spokes men/ women for
is that not right Fiona???
Posted by Plane spotter | 05.10.09, 18:42 GMT
Great... God forbid you should ever allow an extension of a runway. It might create a few jobs for the local economy and the poor people who have to listen could even apply for a job. Wake up and think outside the box. Im sure there are time restrictions on when planes can land and take off.
Posted by AL | 05.10.09, 01:12 GMT
Let me guess - does Dr Darragh possibly, maybe live near Harbour Airport himself? Hmmmm....
Posted by Sandy | 04.10.09, 08:41 GMT
"Rooves"? Now I know this paper is headed for the gutter! This should have read "rooftops" or "roofs" - but there is not an entry for "rooves" in my dictionary!
Posted by Centaur | 03.10.09, 18:20 GMT
Perhaps a new rail link up to Aldergrove would be a better use of public money rather than replicating what is already there and working.
Posted by Fred | 03.10.09, 18:11 GMT
To meet the demand for a modern and expanding economy, Northern Ireland does need appropriate airport facilities to accommodate the type of aircraft suitable for flights within the EU. However, the George Best site is hopelessly unsuitable for the reasons cited by Dr. Darragh, and, to the extent that, even as things stand, peak operating times make living under the flight-path akin to what one would imagine was consistent with noise levels of the Berlin Airlift. Northern Ireland has no scarcity of more suitable green-field sites on which to establish a more suitable airport, so the bullet must be bitten, and a site developed.
Posted by Charles Smyth | 03.10.09, 15:15 GMT