THE controversial decision to allow TAG Farnborough Airport its own dedicated airspace is “a complete lash up” that shows “a disregard for noise and pollution”.

Whitehill Town Council leader Mark Davison, who made the comments, has been a long-standing critic of the proposal and can “fully understand” why the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) decision has triggered a Parliamentary investigation.

Contrary to objectors’ fears, TAG insists the recently granted proposal will lead to “a net reduction in people overflown” as “arriving aircraft will remain higher for longer and departing aircraft will climb higher more quickly”.

Still, the proposal has proved contentious locally, with objections coming from East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds, East Hampshire District Council, the South Downs National Park Authority and general airspace users, such as Lasham Gliding Society - the UK’s largest gliding club.

After permission was granted, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on General Aviation announced it intended to investigate the way airspace changes are processed by the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK.

“TAG has not got the complete control it wanted,” Mr Davison said.

“Instead, a lot of the airspace it requested is going to be class E, which allows any aircraft to enter its airspace provided they use a serviceable identification transponder.

“Crucially, these aircraft will not need air-traffic-control clearance and will still be responsible for looking out for other aircraft. This does not seem to have changed from what happens now, with the exception that it has added a hefty bill for transponder equipment to those private pilots who fly infrequently for leisure.

“The report talks about the use of RNAV routes for arrivals and departures, which it believes will cut down on population centres being overflown; but then goes on to say that no respite routes have been incorporated. Basically, if you are going to suffer from noise and pollution as a result of these changes, there is no chance that you will ever get respite from it.

“These RNAV routes appear to pass ever so slightly to the east and west of Whitehill and Bordon, but with the height and the noise level of some of these aircraft, particularly Bombardier aircraft, the noise nuisance is here to stay.

“Having spoken with both TAG Farnborough and the CAA in the past, both dreadful and infuriating experiences, I can fully understand why an All-Party Parliamentary Group wants to investigate the airspace change process and CAA.

“This approval is a complete lash up favouring big business over leisure pilots and showing complete disregard for noise and pollution on the ground.”

Ferris Cowper, the district council’s cabinet member for Whitehill and Bordon, added: “The CAA seems intent on approving new controlled airspace that will create unacceptable levels of noise in some of East Hampshire’s most beautiful countryside. What makes it worse is the total absence of justification while Farnborough airport is operating substantially below its capacity. I hope that energetic efforts of our MP and the pressure from the Parliamentary Select Committee can minimise this assault on the peace and quiet of rural England.”