Notes of the Meeting of The Cotswold Airport Advisory Group
Thursday 5th November 2009 at 2pm in The Committee Rooms
Present: From
Suzanna Harvey
Nick Howard
From Wiltshire Council: Graham Steady
John Freegard
Allan Brown
From Cotswold District
Council: Andy Fotherby - Chair
Nigel Bowsher
Councillor
Councillor
1. Apologies were received from Nike Napper of Cotswold District Council,
Charles Mondahl of
2. Andy Fotherby, as Chairman, welcomed those present to the Group. The Chair stated his hope that the meeting would be the first of many. He said that he felt sure all present would agree that there had been a difficult period over the last few years and it was time to try and address issues before they become problems. He expressed a wish for better communication between the various groups represented around the table.
3. The Chair introduced the purpose of the Group. He reiterated that the chief purpose of the Group was to identify when there may be a problem in the future and attempt to address that problem before matters deteriorated. He urged openness and frankness between the various groups represented. The Chair then asked representatives of
The Chair asked representatives of Wiltshire Council for their views and they indicated that they were very much in accordance with those expressed by him and Mr Paul.
4. Communications
The Chair asked if the Airport had done anything to allay the public’s fears about the re-branding. Nick Howard said that there had been nothing specific but the Airport was always open to visitors and he was more than happy to meet with Members of the public.
Action: Co-ordination of such a Meeting with the Parish Council, by both Authorities, AF was suggested by the Chair. There was general acceptance of this.
Suzanna Harvey did point out that Glenn Moreman now sends out an e-mail to the local community regarding activities going on at the Airport and made it clear that complaints have now almost disappeared.
The Chair said that he had prepared some stated aims of the Group which he read out and said he would circulate to Members by e-mail for comment and approval. The stated aims were:
All members of the Group to update, review and where possible, resolve all issues relating to:-
(i) possible future changes in activity
(ii) possible future developments
(iii) current activities
(iv) mitigating against future complaints
(v) improving communications between Cotswold and Wiltshire Councils,
(vi) such activities that may cause concern to local authorities and surrounding communities.
Action: John Birch wondered if the Chair could write to all Chairman of Parish
AF Councils asking them to channel their concerns through the Advisory Group since currently Members of Parish Councils were doing their own thing and forming their own separate groups which ultimately could lead to difficulties at times.
The Chair said that he would very much like to improve web sites.
Nick Howard said that the Airport could improve its web site by putting all the events on the front page.
The Chair reiterated that presently the local community feels that the Council is not doing anything.
A discussion then followed about complaints. Nigel Bowsher remarked that many of the complaints made against
Action: There was also some discussion about the 28 day rule. It was felt that a
AF separate Meeting should take place to discuss this, in particular what constitutes a “day” within that rule and definition of the planning unit. It was pointed out that the 28 day rule is not relevant to consideration of statutory nuisance.
5. With regard to activities of concern to the community Lee Paul mentioned that the Airport does write to Wiltshire Council and Cotswold District Council about construction of buildings at the Airport under permitted development rights. To date, there has been no response from Wiltshire Council and sporadic response from Cotswold District Council. Graham Steady asked for copies of letters that had not received a response from Wiltshire Council to be e-mailed to him and he undertook to ensure that they received a response.
Lee Paul accepted that noise was identified as the chief concern of local residents and that about 85% of that noise was car noise.
Graham Steady said that if the Airport could compile a full schedule of what is planned and/or going on at the Airport throughout the year would be immensely useful.
6. Representatives of the Airport said that, as far as Formula 1 testing was concerned, all teams have been restricted to 4 days only next year. Up to 6 Formula 1 teams may be testing, however. It was reiterated by
Allan Brown asked representative of the Airport what the purpose of the Formula 1 testing was. Nick Howard said that it was for the testing of engines or aerofoils.
Suzanna Harvey wondered if it might be an idea to open up the Formula 1 testing days to the community so that members of the public could see what was going on. There was some enthusiasm for this.
Nick Howard said that the difficulty came because the Formula 1 teams gave very little notice that they would be testing and this did not give the Airport much time to notify the local community.
7. With regards to the complaints procedure Lee Paul said that the Airport has its own web site based complaints procedure. The Chair asked if there were penalties imposed on persistent offenders flying over residential properties. Nick Howard said that there were not because for the majority of the time no law was being broken.
John Freegard pointed out that aircraft noise is not subject to control through statutory nuisance and that Wiltshire Council has not received complaints about flying.
8. Future attendance at Meetings was then discussed. The Chair said that he envisaged two sets of Meetings; Strategic and Operational.
9. The Chair will set up a date for the separate Meeting about Formula 1 testing Action: and a date in early December is to be preferred. A calendar of regular
AF Meetings of the Advisory Group will then be drawn up by the Chair and circulated to Members of the Group.