AN AIRPORT which has flight paths over the Lutterworth area will not be allowed to expand in the near future.
Town MP Andrew Robathan demanded answers on the future use of Coventry Airport in Parliament because he said there has been a perceived increase in the amount of air traffic over the area.
The airport last month was refused permission to build a n
ew passenger terminal, which would have catered for about two million people every year.
The new terminal would have meant a large increase in the number of incoming and outgoing flights from the airport.
However, Mr Robathan said that many people in the Lutterworth area are still worried about the possibility of future expansion which would in turn result in more aircraft in the skies over the town.
Speaking in Parliament, he said: “Many of my constituents are very concerned by a perceived increase in the number of aircraft; they appear particularly to be flying over the Lutterworth area much more.
“Many others believe that an expansion of Coventry Airport in an area of high population would be unwise.”
Jim Fitzpatrick, a Parliamentary under-secretary in the Department for Transport, told Mr Robathan that the Government had no plans to allow expansion at the airport in the near future.
Rosita Page, county councillor for the Lutterworth area, said she had been happy to hear that the airport had not been granted permission for its extension.
She added: “For a long while people did not hear anything from the airport but now the holiday season has started then the skies are getting busier.
“A number of people have contacted me from villages around Lutterworth saying they have been disturbed by noise.
“It can be difficult for people to know who to complain to because the aviation industry is not very transparent.”
Steve Charlish, airspace campaigner and councillor, said it was important that people complained to Coventry Airport every time they were disturbed by noise, otherwise no action would be taken.
Chris Orphanou, Coventry Airport’s Managing Director said that an appeal against the Government’s decision to turn down planning permission was being planned.
He added: “In our view this decision is extremely short-sighted and not in the best interests of the region.”
