TAG Expansion Plans
May 24, 2008 12:25:29 GMT 1
Post by Admin (Annette Andria) on May 24, 2008 12:25:29 GMT 1
www.farnboroughairportconsultation.com/
TAG sets its sights on airfield masterplan
By Rebecca Connop Price
22/ 5/2008
Farnborough Airport bosses have launched a public consultation process ahead of their bid to expand the airport’s operations.
TAG, the airport’s operator, has sent more than 13,000 consultation forms to Star area homes.
The documents are designed to allow residents to give the airport feedback before TAG draws up its “masterplan” for the future.
TAG chief executive Brandon O’Reilly said the documents were being mailed out to both educate people about the airport and to get feedback from them. He said: “I am still surprised by the number of people who have no idea what goes on at the airport.
“Some believe it’s still a military airport, some think it’s the home of the Red Arrows, and some believe that Ryan Air and EasyJet have applied to fly here.”
None of these things are true, he said, and the airport would like to set the record straight.
He also revealed that TAG would like get the ball rolling to increase its flight movements in time for the London Olympics in 2012.
He said: “The London organising committee have made it clear that their second objective – their first being lots of gold medals – is creating good first and last impressions of London.
“It’s quite clear that a number of heads of state, as well as athletes, for security reasons, will be travelling by private or business aviation.”
But the first step, he said, is to get feedback about their plans. The consultation documents, which include a glossy brochure explaining the airport’s role in the community and a pull-out questionnaire which residents are being asked to post back to TAG, have been mailed out this week. Airport bosses expect that most documents should have arrived on doorsteps by the end of the week.
Anyone who does not receive their documents can still give TAG their feedback by visiting www.farnboroughairportconsultation.com
Rushmoor Borough Council’s chief executive Andrew Lloyd welcomed the airport’s attempts to reach out to the public. He said: “I genuinely believe they’re doing this in good faith. They’re trying to get the community to engage and thinking about what they want and don’t want.”
But the Farnborough Aerodrome Consultative Committee’s chairman Geoff Marks told the Star he was concerned that consultation will be used by Rushmoor Council to inform its Local Development Framework process, which is due to begin shortly.
“I am concerned by that because I think the role that Rushmoor has to play and the role that TAG have to play are quite separate,” he said.
“TAG as the airport operator are trying to maximise their profits. Rushmoor have a totally different view. Their job is to listen to people like me and make sure there’s a proper, fair and reasonable balance which takes into account public safety and other environmental concerns.”
Mr Lloyd said that although the council would likely take TAG’s public consultation into account when drawing up its Local Development Framework, it would also be doing its own consultation work and relying on other sources of information to inform the plans.
TAG’s consultation will be the first to wrap up. Once public feedback has been gathered, it will be used to inform a draft masterplan – which will also be available for the public to comment on later this year.
Any expansion plans will have to be submitted to Rushmoor Borough Council's planning department for approval.
Although the consultation papers don’t specifically ask residents if they want flights to increase at the airport, they do address certain aspects of expansion.
Questions 5.1 and 5.2 ask residents how they would be affected by noise if the airport’s hours were extended, and ask residents to what degree they would be affected by noise if the flight movements were to increase above 28,000 a year.
Mr O’Reilly said TAG would like to make the best use of the airport’s existing resources. He said: “TAG Farnborough Airport is an important local, regional and national asset. We need to realise its potential in a responsible manner.”
TAG sets its sights on airfield masterplan
By Rebecca Connop Price
22/ 5/2008
Farnborough Airport bosses have launched a public consultation process ahead of their bid to expand the airport’s operations.
TAG, the airport’s operator, has sent more than 13,000 consultation forms to Star area homes.
The documents are designed to allow residents to give the airport feedback before TAG draws up its “masterplan” for the future.
TAG chief executive Brandon O’Reilly said the documents were being mailed out to both educate people about the airport and to get feedback from them. He said: “I am still surprised by the number of people who have no idea what goes on at the airport.
“Some believe it’s still a military airport, some think it’s the home of the Red Arrows, and some believe that Ryan Air and EasyJet have applied to fly here.”
None of these things are true, he said, and the airport would like to set the record straight.
He also revealed that TAG would like get the ball rolling to increase its flight movements in time for the London Olympics in 2012.
He said: “The London organising committee have made it clear that their second objective – their first being lots of gold medals – is creating good first and last impressions of London.
“It’s quite clear that a number of heads of state, as well as athletes, for security reasons, will be travelling by private or business aviation.”
But the first step, he said, is to get feedback about their plans. The consultation documents, which include a glossy brochure explaining the airport’s role in the community and a pull-out questionnaire which residents are being asked to post back to TAG, have been mailed out this week. Airport bosses expect that most documents should have arrived on doorsteps by the end of the week.
Anyone who does not receive their documents can still give TAG their feedback by visiting www.farnboroughairportconsultation.com
Rushmoor Borough Council’s chief executive Andrew Lloyd welcomed the airport’s attempts to reach out to the public. He said: “I genuinely believe they’re doing this in good faith. They’re trying to get the community to engage and thinking about what they want and don’t want.”
But the Farnborough Aerodrome Consultative Committee’s chairman Geoff Marks told the Star he was concerned that consultation will be used by Rushmoor Council to inform its Local Development Framework process, which is due to begin shortly.
“I am concerned by that because I think the role that Rushmoor has to play and the role that TAG have to play are quite separate,” he said.
“TAG as the airport operator are trying to maximise their profits. Rushmoor have a totally different view. Their job is to listen to people like me and make sure there’s a proper, fair and reasonable balance which takes into account public safety and other environmental concerns.”
Mr Lloyd said that although the council would likely take TAG’s public consultation into account when drawing up its Local Development Framework, it would also be doing its own consultation work and relying on other sources of information to inform the plans.
TAG’s consultation will be the first to wrap up. Once public feedback has been gathered, it will be used to inform a draft masterplan – which will also be available for the public to comment on later this year.
Any expansion plans will have to be submitted to Rushmoor Borough Council's planning department for approval.
Although the consultation papers don’t specifically ask residents if they want flights to increase at the airport, they do address certain aspects of expansion.
Questions 5.1 and 5.2 ask residents how they would be affected by noise if the airport’s hours were extended, and ask residents to what degree they would be affected by noise if the flight movements were to increase above 28,000 a year.
Mr O’Reilly said TAG would like to make the best use of the airport’s existing resources. He said: “TAG Farnborough Airport is an important local, regional and national asset. We need to realise its potential in a responsible manner.”
