By John Baron
A Kirkstall resident has called on West Leeds councillors to do more to prevent night-time flying at Leeds Bradford Airport.
Gail Groom was speaking in an open forum session at the start of yesterday evening’s Inner South West Community Committee meeting at Leeds Civic Hall.
She told councillors: “I know LBA have submitted an application to increase night-time flights and there are a lot of concerns in multiple communities for multiple reasons.
“I am a health professional, night-time flying has an impact on people’s sleep, and we know how important sleep is to people’s lives. It goes without saying that more flights has an impact on air pollution and climate change.”
Ms Groom raised concerns that councillors would not be making a decision on the application and that local people could not submit comments on the application.
“Surely there must be something that you, as councillors, can do to stop LBA flying even more planes at night?” she added.
Meeting chair Cllr Mohammed Iqbal said Ms Groom’s points were noted and he will formally write to her in response.
Cllr Hannah Bithell (Lab, Kirkstall) said she understood members of the public could submit evidence, but not comment.
Ms Groom added that submitting evidence was not comment or consultation. She said: “As councillors what can you do to respond to this? There is significant concern.”
WLD reported last week that people have until 25 March to submit factual evidence on the plans.
The council’s planning department received the new Certificate of Lawful Existing Use or Development (CLEUD) application from the airport towards the end of February.
The application seeks to establish the lawfulness of take-offs and landings at the airport at night by certain types of aircraft.
The council says CLEUD applications involve a different decision-making process to an application for planning permission.
The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 gives local planning authorities discretion in certain circumstances to issue a call for evidence from third parties – including members of the public – when dealing with an application for a CLEUD.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said: “The council recognises that planning matters relating to Leeds Bradford Airport are often the subject of much public interest.
“[The] call for evidence gives third parties, including members of the public, the opportunity to provide material relevant to the airport’s new CLEUD application.
“It must be stressed, however, that decisions on a CLEUD application cannot take into account evidence or comments which fall outside the determination process’s tightly-defined parameters.
“These parameters are not set by planning authorities such as the council, they are laid down in national law.”
Submissions must also relate to the period covered by the airport’s evidence, which is 1 January 2010, through to 31 December 2019.
Leeds-Bradford Airport is currently allowed to operate some aircraft arrivals and departures between 11pm and 7am. But Airport bosses argue the restrictions are over 30 years old and place LBA at a competitive disadvantage compared to other UK airports.
The application – which relates to aircraft classed as being less than 87 EPNdB (Effective Perceived Noise Decibel) – can be found here.
The Inner South West Community Committee is made up of councillors for Armley and Kirkstall wards, plus Beeston & Holbeck and Hunslet & Riverside wards.
The committee is also responsible for council functions such as street cleaning and youth services, as well as funding large and small projects and initiatives.
View the meeting in full here:
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