Night flights set to be monitored amid opposition

SOLIHULL planners have agreed to formally monitor the number of night time flights in and out of Birmingham Airport after agreeing an increase earlier this year.

- SAM GREENWAY Local Democracy Reporter

BHX bosses successfully applied to Solihull Council for the increase insisting extra night flights were necessary if the airport is to grow and the local economy is not to miss out on millions in economic benefits.

But there had been widespread opposition from residents who said peaceful nights were "already becoming a distant memory".

In response to the concerns it was proposed a new sub-committee of the authority's planning committee described as a 'critical friend' would monitor, assess and understand the performance of the night flying policy as it evolves over time.

Its key tasks will be:

■To monitor the number of air traffic movements (ATMs) recorded at the airport on a regular basis and the proportion of such movements that occur within the nighttime period