FARNHAM residents who are objecting to the proposals to double the number of weekend and bank holiday flights at Farnborough Airport have been warned that it may be a "done deal", even though Rushmoor Borough Council are continuing to listen to objections. 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. Yet after a public outcry, Rushmoor Borough Council's development control committee has decided to allow up to an hour of public speaking instead of the normal six minutes at a special committee meeting which will decide the fate of TAG's application. The meeting will take place on a date as yet unnamed in the new year. A total of 10 speakers opposing the proposal will be given five minutes each and the remaining 10 minutes will be set aside for the applicants or supporters of the application. Farnham resident Roger Higgins, who is opposed to the proposal, said. "The limit on the number of movements was imposed to protect local residents from noise, pollution and danger, nothing has changed to make this increase necessary." But he is cautious about the prospects of the council rejecting TAG's application. "Hopefully all of our campaigning will have helped but I think the council may side with TAG," he said. Sharing this opinion is Geoff Marks, the chairman of the Farnborough Airport Residents' Association, who said: "Local residents who are overflown by Farnborough air traffic are overwhelmingly opposed to a doubling of weekend movements. They have been moved to respond in large numbers because they suspect that Rushmoor Borough Council is preparing to renege on the local plan policy that limits weekend flying to 2,500 flights. "If they do that it is odds on that the policy limiting the overall annual movement will also fall sooner rather than later. Having witnessed the disingenuity, manipulation and the incestuous relationship between TAG, Rushmoor Borough Council and the government over the last six years I believe these fears are well founded." Keith Holland, Rushmoor Borough Council's case officer, said in response: "The period of public consultation expired on December 9 and we are currently assessing all the comments. In total we have received more than 1,500 representations including objections, letters of support or just comments on the application. "Not surprisingly, the vast majority are opposing the proposal, principally for the reason of additional noise and disturbance at the weekends. The council decided to extend the period of consultation originally from six to nine weeks since it was clear that the application was of considerable public interest and we were not in a position to take it to our committee for a decision. "The council has commissioned a firm of independent noise consultants to assess the technical aspects of the application and they have yet to submit their report. Moreover, I have sought more information from TAG on their proposal and I am still awaiting their response. Consequently no date has yet been set for the committee meeting to consider the application."
