Airport apologises for breaching night-time flying limits

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has breached the planning condition that restricts night-time movements.

It has apologised after exceeding the number of permitted night-time movements by 25% during the 2022 summer season.

Leeds City Council says it received a complaint in October 2022 which was then investigated with full co-operation from LBA.

The investigation concluded that during the 2022 summer season there were 3,667 night-time movements, exceeding the cap imposed by 747.

A breach of condition notice has been served by the council which Leeds Bradford Airport has accepted. As part of this notice the airport has accepted the requirement to adhere to the limits set out in its 2007 planning consent.

A revised monitoring framework has been put in place by the airport, to be reviewed by Leeds City Council on a monthly basis, to ensure continued compliance.

The council says any failure to comply with a breach of condition notice is a criminal offence which is liable to prosecution through the courts.

Councillor Helen Hayden, the council’s executive member for sustainable development and infrastructure, said: “Leeds City Council understands the public concerns which have been raised regarding night-time flight movements and have investigated this matter thoroughly, in accordance with our established procedures.

“This has concluded that a breach has occurred, leading to a formal notice being served on Leeds Bradford Airport, which they have accepted.

“The airport has since put in place measures to prevent future instances, which will be subject to regular monitoring to ensure continued compliance to planning conditions.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and if required the council has many further options it can pursue including, but not limited to, an Enforcement Notice.

“If the Breach of Condition Notice is not complied with this can escalate into summary prosecution that can be brought in the Magistrates’ Court for the offence of contravening a breach of condition notice.”

Vincent Hodder, chief executive officer of LBA, responded: “On behalf of LBA, I sincerely apologise for the airport exceeding the permitted number of night flights in summer 2022.

“I want to reassure our local communities that actions have been taken quickly to address the problems that led to this error.

“These new controls, alongside our continued collaboration with Leeds City Council, will ensure LBA will operate within the terms of its planning consent.

“The summer 2023 schedules have already been adjusted with our airline partners to reflect the conditions and we are working with the council to ensure conditions of the planning consent are understood by all parties and adhered to.”

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