Airport seeks views on noise plan

The airport wants to build a second terminal under expansion plans

Southampton Airport has published its plans on managing aircraft noise over the next five years.

The BAA-run site has started a public consultation on the proposals which include keeping night time flight bans and buying two mobile noise monitors.

The final plan will be given to the government by December and, if agreed, implemented for five years from 2010.

Opponents welcomed the moves but warned the problem would get worse if plans to expand the site by 2030 go ahead.

The airport, which used to be known as Eastleigh Airport, plans to build a second terminal and increase flights, predicting passenger numbers growing from current levels of about two million a year to three million in 2015 and six million in 2030.

'Real concern'

Chris Bluemel, from Against eXpansion at Eastleigh (AXE), said: "We welcome any moves to reduce and monitor noise at the airport in this plan.

"But the plan only accounts for the noise of each plane, not the frequency, and with flights increasing under the expansion plans the problem is going to get worse.

"There's a silly situation where if you take away one Concorde and replace it with 20 other quieter planes it counts as a noise reduction.

"We want to see noise measured in frequency as well."

Southampton Airport said the proposals were drawn up with expansion plans in mind and are appropriate even if a big increase in flights were approved.

Stewart Smith, environment managed at the airport, said: "We aim to manage the issue of aircraft noise in a pro-active and sensitive way, as we understand that for some local people it can be a real concern.

"Our responsibility extends beyond the airport boundary, so we want to know what people think of our draft plans."

A Southampton Airport spokeswoman said economic conditions would be key to an any expansion with BAA announcing the number of passengers using the airport fell 12.5% in May compared to the same time in 2008.

But she said plans to increase flights were continuing.