CAMPAIGNERS are joining a protest tomorrow evening (September 13) to ban night flights at Bristol Airport.
Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN) is calling to local residents and campaigners to meet near the airport at Felton Common car park opposite St Katherine’s Church at 6pm for a "legal and peaceful protest to mark the occasion".
This is part of an International Day of Action has been called and some 70 airport campaign groups around the world are taking part in protests at their local airports.
Those attending the event have been asked to wear their nightclothes and bring teddies and other sleeping essentials to accentuate the fact that night flights drastically affect the sleep, health and wellbeing of many people who live under the flight path of planes flying to and from Bristol Airport.
The day of action coincides with the frightening revelation that Bristol Airport has already exceeded its yearly quota of 4,000 night flights for 2024 with still four months of the year left to go.
The 4,000 limit was agreed as part of the airport ‘s planning conditions attached to the expansion that was granted in 2022 despite huge local opposition to the planning application.
Stephen Clarke, a member of BAAN said: “We are demonstrating today in solidarity with other residents around the world who are badly affected by night flights.
“From Bristol to Barcelona and from Antwerp to Amsterdam; together we say these damaging and unnecessary night flights should be banned.”
Richard Baxter, also a member of BAAN said: “Various studies have shown that night flights cause a wide range of medical and mental conditions for those who suffer from severely disturbed sleep caused by aircraft noise.
“This was a key reason why we established a website (http://eyesonbristolairport.org) that graphically illustrated the number of flights tracked to and from Bristol Airport by using global API data.
“We vowed to hold the airport to account on behalf of local residents and our worst fears have been realised.
“Despite a yearly quota being placed on the airport there seems to be no control, or any disincentives placed on late flights that arrive at night.
“Airport management have little regard for the disturbances that local people have had to endure which affects their wellbeing.”
It is understood that the reporting period for the flight quota is not based on the calendar year.
A Bristol Airport spokesperson said: “We are aware of the peaceful, organised protest planned on the A38 near the Airport on Friday evening (September 13).
“The airport operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week under tight noise and environmental controls.
“We work closely with the airlines and North Somerset Council to remain within our consented operating limits and report all night flights and dispensations to North Somerset Council on a monthly basis.
“For summer 2023 and winter 2023/24 there were 3,806 night flights, which is within the 4,000 limit for this reporting period.
“From March 31 to August 4, 2024, we have had 1,969 night flights.”
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