By Don Mort, local democracy reporting service
Airport campaigners have welcomed a public inquiry decision which will limit the number of night-time flights allowed in and out of Leeds Bradford Airport.
Airport bosses had appealed against a Leeds City Council planning decision to restrict some aircraft from flying after 11pm.
It led to a Planning Inspectorate hearing in March, in which the Yeadon airport sought a re-interpretation of the regulations.
Complaints had been made from people living near the airport, and the council issued an enforcement notice last September after LBA was found to have breached noise rules.
Now a decision has been issued dismissing two of three appeals made by LBA.
An airport spokesperson said: “We’re reviewing the outcomes of the public inquiry and will be working closely with Leeds City Council to determine the best path forward.
““Our priority is for our airport to continue to fulfil the needs of the 4.2m-plus people who choose to travel with us every year. And in doing so support our employees, our communities and our region.”
GALBA (the Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport) said they were delighted with the inquiry outcome.
Group secretary Ian Coatman said: “This is a victory for local people, our environment and common sense.
“While it doesn’t mean an end to all night flights, it does mean the airport must stick to the rules that limit the number of planes allowed to fly at night.”
The inquiry considered three applications for Certificates of Lawfulness of Existing Use or Development (CLEUDS).
It allowed one of LBA’s appeals, which sought to exempt some aircraft from the night flight limits.
Leeds City Council said its officers were still looking at the detail of the inquiry decision.
A spokesperson said: “The council has been notified by the Planning Inspectorate regarding LBA’s appeals against our refusal of two CLEUD applications and the non-determination of a third.
“We can confirm that, following a public inquiry held earlier this year, two of these appeals have now been dismissed and one has been allowed.”
Last month WLD reported more than 40 Horsforth residents attended a public meeting about Leeds Bradford Airport at St Margaret’s Church.
The new terminal at LBA also opened last month with upgraded terminal facilities. The opening of the terminal marks the end of the first phase of the airport’s £100 million ongoing expansion project.
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This is an encouraging decision, though we will have to wait and see how it plays out in reality. For too long Vincent Hodder has rode roughshod over the local community, making out he does not know what is going on at the airport, even though he is in charge. Like the Water companies, he is only interested in profits for his shareholders (some of whom are, no doubt, local politicians) whereas he should be working to balance the interests of his investors with those of the local communities he operates in. I live a few miles from the airport, not under the flightpath, but the night time flying has got increasingly noisy over the past few years, and its very disruptive on peoples lives. People made their house buying decisions on the basis of existing information, it is not up to Mr Hodder to vary the planning permission as and when it suits him without going through the proper channels.
If you actually go into this
The airport can currently operate as many prop planes in the night as it wants to as long as they don’t breach the 1993 plans which states 87 decibels
The new gen aircraft airbus and Boeing state
Max decibels on takeoff are
A320 neo family approx 85 decibels
737-max family. Approx 70 decibels
So in theory the airport can operate as many as the older types as it wants which are actually louder then the new gen aircraft
Don’t really make sense as this on paper
But as people say no one what night flights but I think we have to accept it