Feb 10 - EMA noise plan

Feb 10 - EMA noise plan

Mark has raised concerns with the Government about East Midlands Airport's response to the need to produce a noise action plan. He met with Jim Fitzpatrick, Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), yesterday (tues Nov 9) concerning the airport's Draft Noise Action Plan. The airport published the plan last year in response to a directive by the European Union requiring airports to come up with proposals to cut the volume of noise caused by flights into and out of the airport. Airport bosses held public consultation meetings for local people to have their say about the plan. This consultation ended in October and the final proposals were then sent to the Government for approval. Mark, who represents many constituents that live near the airport, criticised the proposals arguing that they did not go far enough to comply with the directive and actually set out how noise would be permitted to increase; that they used noise measurements not used elsewhere and that there was no local accountability. He is concerned that the final plans submitted to the Government do not reflect his concerns or those of local opposition groups like the Melbourne Civic Society. At the meeting, Mr Fitzpatrick said that there will now be a discussion with the airport on the plan led by the two departments involved - the Department for Transport and Defra. Mark said: "This was a very useful meeting. Originally David Taylor was to have accompanied me to this meeting since he shared most of my concerns. I am sure he would have added force to my arguments. I'm delighted that my points and those of local groups like the Melbourne Civic Society were understood. "It is only fair that the airport be told the concerns that will be pursued. Once the airport has been briefed I will comment further."

Mark Todd