A FARNHAM resident has blasted proposals to double the number of weekend flights at Farnborough Airport. TAG Aviation has submitted an application to Rushmoor Borough Council to double the number of flights allowable at weekends and bank holidays from the current 2,500 to 5,000. If granted by the council, this would result in four flights per hour during permitted flying times on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. The flights are likely to be split between landing and taking off so residents at either end of the runway would be likely to experience, on average, two flights per hour. Yet a Farnham resident, who lives directly under the flight path to the airport, is concerned that any increase in flights will have a detrimental impact. "I live under the flight path and I am already disturbed by the number of flights at weekends," said the resident, who wishes to remain anonymous. "The proposal to double the number of flights ignores the feelings of people who live under the flight path and I think it should be rejected." Sir Donald Spiers of TAG Aviation is keen to reassure residents that the flights will cause as little disruption as possible. "Farnborough Airport has grown into the successful business hub for Farnborough and beyond," he said. "In order to sustain this, we need to make this alteration to our weekend and bank holiday movements. "This is to meet the business demands created by companies who need to operate their businesses worldwide on a seven-day-a-week basis. We intend to continue to be good neighbours to the communities that surround us and will be listening to concerns raised during this process." Concerned residents can respond to the proposal at a consultative meeting to be held at St Mark's Church Hall, Guildford Road East, Farnborough on Sunday (October 30) between 10 am and 4 pm.
