News

I received a positve letter from NATS (The National Air Traffic Services, which manages Britain’s airspace) this week informing me of their decision to leave the current flight paths from Luton airport alone until at least September 2010.

This will come as welcome news to the residents of South and West Luton who will have been severely and negatively impacted by the increase in noise and pollution that the proposals to change Westerly flight departures would have involved.

Last Summer hundreds of Luton and Caddington area residents came out against the NATS proposals and rally’s and packed public meetings were organized by local Conservative representatives (see pictures).  Thousands of local residents also responded to the consultation that took place early last Summer.

Andrew Selous MP and Cllr Richard Stay deserve considerable credit for their campaigning and the pressure they brought on NATS while Margaret Moran MP in typical fashion failed to turn up to  key meetings.  London Luton Airport also played a key part in opposing the planned routes as they, too, recognised the proposals would increase not decrease the noise suffered by local residents.

But most credit should go to the people of Luton South who responded to the consultation and attended the rally’s, and who spoke with one loud and clear voice declaring ‘NO TO NATS’. People power does work.