EAST Hampshire MP Damian Hinds is calling for a new consultation on controversial airspace change proposals for Farnborough Airport.

Mr Hinds is urging the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to require TAG Farnborough Airport Ltd to conduct a “new and more transparent consultation” to give people the opportunity to fully understand and make an informed response to the scheme.

The final proposals are lodged with the CAA for consideration but have not, due to commercial confidentiality, been made fully available to the public.

But, according to TAG Farnborough, the process has met turbulence.

Last Friday, the CAA advised TAG of its intention to pause the decision process, to review certain technical, implementation aspects and airspace-sharing arrangements.

A TAG spokesman said: “This is not unusual, particularly with such a complex application, and TAG Farnborough Airport will advise when the process is res-umed.”

In making the application, TAG argues that the proposed airspace design would offer all airspace users “predictability and consistency of operations”, resulting in a “safer and more controlled environment in which to operate”, and leading to further reductions in noise and carbon dioxide emissions.

But critics fear that, if given the go ahead, the introduction of a new lower “controlled” airspace around the airport, and proposed changes to flightpaths in and out of Farnborough, could have a significant and, as yet, not clearly understood impact on local communities, in terms of increased air traffic, noise and pollution.

They also fear the effect on the viability and movement of smaller general-aviation operations, who will have their wings clipped significantly as the uncontrolled so-called “G” space in which they currently fly is reduced in size, leading to greater congestion and dangerous “pinch points”.

Resistance has come from all levels of government, with East Hampshire District Council, the South Downs National Park and local councillors logging objections to the plans.

On Monday, Whitehill Town Council is due to discuss the proposals at its policy and resources committee.

Whitehill Town Council leader, and country and district councillor, Adam Carew said: “As they stand, the TAG Farnborough proposals will have an unacceptable impact on Whitehill and Bordon and neighbouring Lindford, not to mention the rare and internationally protected heathlands that surround our town - two thirds of Whitehill parish lies within the National Park and we will be every bit as impacted as some of the pretty villages in our rural hinterland.

“If permission is granted, these proposals could have a serious impact on our residents and on the future of our town. We must stand together as a community and oppose them. If they are not amended or dismissed, they must be forced to consult again properly.”

Concerned town councillor Mark Davison added: “What we are talking about here is private jets. Is it right that the interests of a few wealthy individuals should be to the detriment to the rest of our community?

“Anyone who experienced the low-flying aircraft held up in air space above our town a few weeks ago will know exactly what we can expect if these appalling proposals get the green light.”

Having been granted permission in 2010 to increase its capacity from 28,000 to 50,000 movements, TAG Farnborough went to public consultation at the end of 2013 over an airspace change proposal, which ended in May last year.

Following a two-stage feedback, a revised proposal was submitted to the CAA for consideration on July 3 this year.

For general aviation operations like Lasham Gliding Society, these changes could threaten its very survival.

Despite its reputation as “the biggest gliding association in the world”, if TAG’s proposals become reality the Gliding Society would be forced to operate in too confined a space and would become unviable.

According to its spokesman, commercial pilot Peter Reading, despite a Freedom of Information request to the CAA, asking for key information on the proposed changes, details have not been forthcoming.

Information following the second feedback report has, he said, been sketchy and not consistent with the original proposal.

The Gliding Society maintains that TAG Farnborough is applying for an “enormous volume” of controlled airspace for a relatively small number of movements and extremely low passenger volumes (200 times the volume of airspace per passenger compared to Gatwick, which in the last financial year had 255,711 movements).

Mr Hinds said: “I am concerned that the revised airspace change proposal, submitted to the CAA at the beginning of July, has not been subject to the same level of scrutiny as the original, despite some major changes having been made to proposed arrival and departure flightpaths.

“These changes could have a significant impact on local communities and it is only right that people have the opportunity to fully understand the proposals through a new and open consultation. My submission to the CAA also reiterates my concern about the potential effect of the airspace change proposal on the operation of the Lasham Gliding Society as it is likely that the economic viability of the club will be compromised, along with the capacity of the site to support jobs in the future.

“There can be no denying the strength and breadth of local opposition to this proposal. Local people deserve a proper, fair and transparent consultation and I believe there are enough concerns raised by the CAA’s own review criteria to justify it.”