Solihull Council officials have defended the authority from accusations it didn’t consult with a neighbouring authority on plans to increase night-time flights from Birmingham Airport. If approved the number of flights allowed to arrive or leave BHX between 11.30pm and 6am would increase from five to 7.3 per cent over the next three years.
BHX bosses argue extra night flights are necessary if the airport is to grow and not miss out on millions – but there has been a 642-strong petition against, a backlash from many of Solihull’s parish councils and 243 objections. A decision is to be made by Solihull Councils planning committee at its latest meeting tonight (January 8).
But ahead of the meeting a row has broken out between Solihull Council and North Warwickshire Borough Council. Jeff Brown, North Warwickshire’s head of development control, told its planning board on Monday, (January 6), there had been “no consultation whatsoever with this council”.
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The officer said he had only become aware of the impending decision through press reports after the Local Democracy Reporting Service first published the story in October. Mr Brown told the board a request to Solihull Council to hold off making a decision this week had been rejected and recommended to members they objected based on “not having any information at all on the possible impact”.
“They say they will not defer consideration, that they do not need to consult and that it will have no effect on parishes in North Warwickshire,” Mr Brown said. Councillor Peter Fowler said: “If it had been in reverse, Solihull would have been just as annoyed as we are at not being consulted.
“Along with many other Coleshill residents, I am on the flight path along with Curdworth and Water Orton. I am quite appalled that they have not had the decency to consult with us.”
Councillor Mark Simpson said although he recognised the Airport Consultative Committee – a panel which includes representatives of councils including North Warwickshire – had been engaged the matter was “far too important” to not have direct and meaningful consultations with neighbouring councils. Following the comments a Solihull Council spokesperson told the LDRS the matter being considered by its planners is not a new ‘planning application’.
“It is an adjustment of the existing Section 106 legal agreement which allows a further review of Birmingham Airport’s Night Flying Policy,” the spokesperson said. “The review of this policy is required every three years by the Section 106 agreement between Solihull Council and Birmingham Airport, which has been in place since 2009.
“This new policy has been discussed over the past 18 months at the Airport Consultative Committee, where North Warwickshire Borough Council has representation. Solihull Council has written to North Warwickshire asking for any representations to be sent and these can be presented to the committee.”
The planning committee meeting, which is open to the public, is being held at the Civic Suite from 6pm. It is also available to watch live on the council’s website solihull.gov.uk.