Airport Consultative Committee

[TheLocalYokel]

There was a ACC meeting today at 14.30
Dates for future meetings.
Weds 27th jan 2021
Weds 28th april 2021
Weds 14th july 2021 AGM this meeting All meetings start at 14.30. You have to apply to go to the meetings.

In the past year they have slightly eased the task of any member of the public wanting to attend a meeting but it's not as open as say somewhere like CWL's airport consultative committee meetings that are held in the evening and members of the public can address the committee. At least that was the situation at CWL and as far as I know is still, unless anyone has more up to date information. Clearly the pandemic has created a new environment where meetings are held 'virtually' but my remarks relate to 'normal' times.

BRS committee meeting minutes also have a habit of disposing of many of the items by saying merely that a report was circulated to committee members. Obviously if something confidential is involved that's understandable but I can't think for a moment that everything minuted in this way contains information that is regarded as confidential.

DfT guidelines says the government expects all airports (aerodromes in DfT parlance) to 'communicate openly and effectively with their local communities and users of the airport about the impact of their operations. Airport Consultative Committees) are a well-established way in which airports can engage with key stakeholders in the local area and beyond'.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The minutes of the last two ACC meetings (27 January and 28 April both this year) are on the airport website - see below link for anyone who wants to read them.

Much of the content revolves around the dynamic situation with Covid although the minutes of the 28 April meeting did contain some matters of ongoing interest, viz:

+ Last October the airport announced plans to bring forward the construction of a new multimillion pound public transport interchange (PTI). Subsequently North Somerset Council decided that the PTI needs an environmental impact assessment and is not considered permitted development. The airport was to review the local authority's conclusions before making a decision on its next steps. This was in April and I'm not aware of the current position.

+ The airport is Level3 co-ordinated between 2300 and 0700 in BST. In November 2019 it had applied to the DfT to become Level 3 year-round and throughout each 24 hours. Early in 2020 the DfT commenced a six-week consultation process into the application which was then extended until near the end of June 2020 because of the effects of Covid. The airport says it needs Level 3 co-ordination to enable it to fully control the demand for flights and passenger numbers, thus ensuring that it remains within its current planning permissions. However, because of the devastating Covid effects on flights and passenger numbers the airport has withdrawn its Level 3 application but intends to resubmit when, as it expects, flights and passenger numbers begin to return to previous levels.

+ The new master plan was originally put out to public consultation in November 2017 with a further consultation document published in May 2018. When the airport's planning application was submitted to the local authority in December 2018 (subsequently rejected and now subject of appeal) the airport decided to pause the master plan process. The final master plan document will now be delayed until after the appeal has been decided (which probably won't be until late 2021 or early 2022 - my comment in italics, not part of the ACC minutes).

Airport Consultative Committee: Papers

Learn more about how we engage with stakeholders in the local community and beyond through the Airport Consultative Committee. View meeting agendas and minutes, Government guidance and related group information.

www.bristolairport.co.uk

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The draft minutes for the Airport Consultative Committee meeting held on 20 October last year can be read at this link.

Airport Consultative Committee: Papers

Learn more about how we engage with stakeholders in the local community and beyond through the Airport Consultative Committee. View meeting agendas and minutes, Government guidance and related group information.

www.bristolairport.co.uk