Council frustration at lack of NAP progress
Thank you to all those who attended the Council Executive, Resources and Contracts Planning and Development Scrutiny Committee and Executive Committee meetings last week. The public gallery for the ERCPDS meeting was full and the Executive meeting witnessed a good attendance too. On both occasions, the video link provided another way to view proceedings for those unable to attend in person.
Executive, Resources and Contracts Planning and Development Scrutiny Committee
The Officer’s report ‘Biggin Hill Airport Noise Action Plan Update’ recorded progress on negotiations and contained a table (Appendix 1) listing progress on the specific NAP measures and action points reported in BHAL’s review of the NAP. These documents can be found at:
https://cds.bromley.gov.uk/documents/s50114683/NAP%20update%20Exec%20Report%20March%202024.pdf
and
https://cds.bromley.gov.uk/documents/s50114684/Appendix%201%20-%20Assessment%20of%20BHALs%20review%20of%20the%20NAP%20measures%20and%20actions.pdf
In summary, whilst a number of the measures were identified as ‘Ongoing’ because, by their nature, they have to be continuously reviewed, the Committee expressed concern that a significant number remained incomplete, being recorded variously as ‘In Progress’, ‘Available evidence to be shared’, ‘Further evidence or action required’ and ‘Not yet completed’.
The Committee expressed some frustration that the review process had taken so long and yet had not produced a review on which all parties had agreed. They requested that the Appendix 1 table be redrafted to demonstrate more clearly the extent to which the numerous incomplete actions had fallen short of the commitments made in the original NAP.
It was clear from the discussion which followed that Councillors had taken note of what residents had been telling them and it was agreed that it is important for the Council, as Landlord, to get the Noise Action Plan right and ensure that it addresses residents’ concerns.
It was noted that the deadline for producing the NAP had been missed and there should be no further prevarication in getting the document finalised.
Councillors supported the proposal that if BHAL exceeded 50,000 movements before the NAP review has been completed, the Council should be prepared to take legal action. The Airport Monitoring Officer was tasked with producing a report for the Committee meeting in June specifying the various options the Council has if this were to be necessary.
A number of councillors spoke in support of residents’ concerns. Recognising that LBB wanted local businesses to do well, nevertheless the impact on local residents could not be ignored. Another councillor who had spoken on the Biggin Hill issue many times felt that BHAL had been consistently non-co-operative.
The Committee endorsed the recommendations set out in the report to Executive and agreed the additional resolutions as follows:
1. Representatives from BHAL and Flightpath Watch should be invited to address the Executive Resources and Contracts PDS Committee at the earliest opportunity. BHAL should be asked to outline their position on the reasons for not accepting the Council’s requirements for completing the NAP review.
2. Officers should be requested to provide an interim report and action plan setting out the alternative options for progressing matters in the absence of an agreement between the Council and BHAL by the June meeting of the Executive with a full report on the progress of negotiations in September 2024.
3. The Council should work with BHAL to combine the terms of the Lease, NAP and the Management Information Letter (MIL) into a single clear document, or alternatively cross-reference these documents in one place alongside a list of obligations of each party.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee accepted the ERCPDS recommendations en bloc.
Flightpath Watch comments
The significant increase in operating hours was agreed by the Council under the then leadership of Cllr S Carr. This decision was taken despite clear objections from many thousands of Bromley residents living under the flightpaths and impacted by BHAL operations. The additional operating hours and the creation of the Strategic Outer London Development Centre (SOLDC) stimulated the transition from small aircraft to jets and more helicopters, which has adversely impacted the amenity of thousands of Bromley residents.
The increased operating hours combined with the development of huge hangars and other buildings on land leased by the London Borough of Bromley (LBB) to Biggin Hill Airport Limited (BHAL) has resulted in a paradigm shift from smaller ‘hobby’ aircraft to noisy and polluting business jet aircraft and many more helicopters, all low over our heads. The resulting complaints to BHAL have increased from 3 per 1,000 movements in 2015 to 20.9 per 1,000 movements during 2022.
The Management Information Letter (MIL dated 19th May 2016) was put in place to set out how BHAL would implement and manage the Noise Action Plan (NAP). The MIL contains 24 items to be addressed. A number of these such as No. 13 Changing the “03 instrument approach” formed a part of the MIL but were not under BHAL’s direct control and whilst the airport continue to work with the CAA to implement the 03 approach, residents continue to suffer.
Flightpath Watch was formed 25 years ago by a group of residents to represent the many thousands affected by operations at Biggin Hill Airport. We continue to provide feedback to Bromley Council so that it can effectively mediate between residents and its tenant BHAL (Biggin Hill Airport Ltd) on matters pertaining to the Lease and how operations at the airport affect our lives.
Flightpath Watch supports the current LBB stance.
Our aim is not to obstruct Biggin Hill Airport’s legitimate business, but to hold LBB true to the promises it made in order to mitigate the impact that the new operating hours would have (and are indeed having) on local residents, as well as monitoring any further development.
Please continue to support our work and spread the word.
Kind regards
Flightpath Watch