(1) how many additional households in and around the Chiltern Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will be overflown by flights at 3,000 feet as a result of the Luton Airport flight path changes proposed by National Air Traffic Services; [203294]

(2) what estimate her Department has made of the number of people living in the Chiltern Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty who will be affected adversely by the proposed National Air Traffic Services’ changes to Luton Airport flight paths; and if she will make a statement; [203295]

(3) what assessment her Department has made of the objections by the Chilterns Conservation Board to the proposed changes to Luton Airport flight paths; and if she will make a statement; [203328]

(4) what environmental guidance her Department has provided to the National Air Traffic Services and the Civil Aviation Authority on the protection of the tranquillity of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty during the current consultation on the Luton, Heathrow and Stansted airport flight paths. [203329]

Jim Fitzpatrick: It would be premature for the Department to offer comment on any airspace change proposal while it is subject to consultation under the independent Airspace Change Process.

Airspace planning and regulation is the responsibility of the independent. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The process for making changes to airspace is governed by the CAA’s Airspace Change Process. Under this process it is for airspace change sponsors to develop and consult upon proposals. Detailed guidance is given on what impacts are to be taken into account, how they should be measured and who should be consulted.

Informed by the consultation, the airspace change sponsor will submit the proposal to the CAA’s Directorate of Airspace Policy for assessment against regulatory requirements. In determining whether to accept or reject a proposal, the CAA’s process reflects the Secretary of State’s Directions and Guidance to the CAA on the exercise of its statutory duties and environmental objectives.

23/5/08 Answers to Parliamentary Questions thus far:

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the projected change in numbers of flights (a) to and (b) from Luton airport by 2020 is; what percentage of flights using Luton airport were domestic in the latest period for which figures are available; and what percentage she expects to be domestic in 2020.
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport’s forecasts for Luton airport are set out in table G8 of the UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts report (November 2007). Luton airport is projected to have 130,000 air transport movements in 2020. The split between domestic and international flights is not readily available. However, we estimate that of the 17 million passengers forecast to use Luton in 2015, 12 per cent. would be domestic passengers.
According to the latest statistics from the Civil Aviation Authority, there were 69,491 international flights and 13,828 domestic flights at Luton in 2007.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to protect national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty from the effects of aircraft noise pollution.
Jonathan Shaw: DEFRA has no formal role to play in how airspace is utilised. The Civil Aviation Authority is charged with scrutinising airspace change proposals and reaching a decision on them, balancing all the competing interests. I understand that Department for Transport guidance requires the Civil Aviation Authority to be rigorous in identifying and reviewing all significant environmental effects of airspace changes, and to notify the Secretary of State for Transport should an airspace change have a significant detrimental effect on the environment.
However, I recently asked my officials to write to the Civil Aviation Authority to remind it of its duty to have regard to the purposes of the National Parks under the provisions of section 11A(2) of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, and the purpose of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty under the provisions of section 85 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

16/5/08 Stepping up the pressure on the Government over the impact of airport expansion on the Chiltern AONB, Norman Baker MP has tabled a series of Parliamentary Questions on the Government's policy towards the Chilterns. These are:

Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the projected change in numbers of flights (a) to and (b) from Luton Airport by 2020 is; what percentage of flights using Luton Airport were domestic in the latest period for which figures are available; and what percentage she expects to be domestic in 2020.
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many additional households in and around the Chiltern Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will be overflown by flights at 3,000 feet as a result of the Luton Airport flight path changes proposed by National Air Traffic Services.
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the number of people living in the Chiltern Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty who will be affected adversely by the proposed National Air Traffic Services' changes to Luton Airport flight paths; and if she will make a statement.
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the objections by the Chilterns Conservation Board to the proposed changes to Luton Airport flight paths; and if she will make a statement.
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what environmental guidance her Department has provided to the National Air Traffic Services and the Civil Aviation Authority on the protection of the tranquillity of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty during the current consultation on the Luton, Heathrow and Stansted airport flight paths.

Chartridge Councillor Peter Jones said "the current NATs review of Luton and Heathrow flight paths is just one small part of a much bigger airport expansion threat to our local quality of life. It's not enough to say "not in my back yard," unless we're also prepared to take the tough decisions nationally to stop airport expansion."

Chartridge Playground update approved by Parish Council – help required

Over recent months your Parish Council has been looking at ways to improve the facilities at the playground in Chartridge. Additional equipment is very expensive to buy and not considered the best use of your Parish Precept, but a Sub Group of Chartridge Councillors under the leadership of Cllr Howell have had a scheme approved by the Council to introduce some additional features which will be installed as a Village self help project financed by your Parish Council.

Help will be needed in the preparation and installation of the additional natural timber features and details of a volunteer working party date will be announced shortly. Watch this space.

Neighbourhood policing

Neighbourhood Policing Contacts (.pdf)

Housing Needs Survey

Housing Needs Survey Chartridge, Bellingdon, Asheridge and Pednor Buckinghamshire, July 2004 (.pdf)

Temporary Traffic Measures

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