Government urges airport action over blight and noise

The government has urged all UK airports to produce blight schemes and publish their post-consultative master plans as soon as possible.

The call for action was made by the Department for Transport in its review of progress following publication of its 2003 Aviation White Paper.

In a Commons statement, transport secretary, Douglas Alexander, confirmed that the government is sticking to its earlier assessment of the need to cater for an expected strong demand in air travel.

"The government reaffirms its commitment to the development of the aviation sector, predominately through making the best use of existing capacity, and ensuring that where new capacity is required its provision is in line with our environmental obligations," he told MPs.

The department has promised to develop a new mechanism to help ministers and interested parties assess the environmental impact of major increases in airport capacity. Details of this "emissions cost assessment" will be published in 2007 and will be subject to consultation, Alexander announced.
 
Meanwhile the DfT progress report, just published, has noted that all airports will have to produce noise maps by mid-2007 in addition to action plans for mitigating the worst effects of aircraft noise by mid 2008 to meet new European Union requirements.

Alexander said: "There has been increasing awareness since the White Paper was published of the need to ensure that the aviation industry grows sustainably. The government has also recognised this as a priority.

"The progress report confirms our intention that aviation should meet its climate change costs and should limit noise and pollution at airports across the country."

He added: "At the same time, we must ensure that the UK has the airport capacity it needs to enhance its economic performance."

View the Air Transport White Paper Progress Report

Roger Milne

15 December 2006