7 November 2006 - Hampshire’s Green Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas has called on government planners to reject a bid to double the number of weekend flights from Farnborough Airport .

Airport operator TAG had sought permission to double the number of weekend and bank holiday air movements to 5,000 a year, claiming it would be unable of reaching its ‘target’ of 28,000 flights a year unless it was allowed to do so. Rushmoor Borough Council rejected the proposal, which is now being considered in an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

Dr Lucas said: "The 28,000 movement per annum limit imposed on TAG is not a target level of airport activity - it was a restriction imposed to balance the interests of TAG against the interests of the airport’s neighbours , who are forced to endure the congestion, pollution and noise associated with flights landing and taking off at Farnborough.

"TAG is suggesting that the current restriction on weekend and bank holiday flights is preventing it from achieving 28,000 movements per year because business flyers want to be able to access their planes at the weekends. That is an operational matter, not a planning consideration.

"Weekend and bank holidays are when residents are most likely to want to enjoy some peace and tranquility. I urge the Planning Inspectorate to give them that opportunity by sticking by its original decision."

Dr Lucas is calling on the government to rethink its support for aviation expansion across the country. Flying is the fastest-growing contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions which are fuelling climate change, and Dr Lucas has drafted proposals – adopted overwhelmingly by the European Parliament earlier this year – for a package of measures to reduce aviation’s impact on climate change, including the establishment of an aviation-only emissions trading scheme.

ENDS