New proposals to change flight paths over Oxfordshire threaten to erode the county’s tranquillity. While the proposals will not lead to the levels of noise that people experience near, for example, airports, they will erode a little more of the tranquillity that the county’s visitors and residents value.

NATS airspace consultation

Proposed aircraft route changes.

News Update:

• July 22 2008. NATS issue their initial feedback document and have indicated they may review options for some routes.

The NATS consultation closed on June 19 and on July 22nd NATS issued their Initial Feedback Document. They received over 15,000 responses to the consultation, with the “principal substantive theme” being “concern about noise in rural areas where tranquillity is valued, compared to noise in towns where there is generally a higher level of ambient noise”. In their report, NATS have identified those elements of their initial proposals on which they intend to undertake further analysis and design work, as a result of issues raised. In some cases this will involve further public consultation. Further updates are promised.

In relation to the Chilterns area, there are some promising signs, with NATS explicitly saying they are looking at other design options for some of the routes the CPRE and The Chiltern Society was concerned about.

See: NATS Initial Feedback Document here

See: The Chiltern Society update here

• June 19 2008. CPRE Oxfordshire opposes the proposals for re-routing Luton flights over the Chilterns. See letter.
• February 2008. Proposed changes to the airspace over the Chilterns, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Further information.

2007

• July 2007. Changes to the airspace structure over a 5 mile wide area stretching from Evesham to Newbury to Andover. Further information.
• September 2005. From 16 March, 2006 the tranquillity of Oxfordshire's countryside will be shattered by a new flight path from London's airports. Further information.