News

Residents on Romney Marsh are angry over the increasing numbers of lights erected at Lydd airport.

Several people living in Dunes Road brought the issue to Lib Dem New Romney Coast Councillor Val Loseby last year, and since then Cllr Loseby has been in regular contact with Shepway Planning Control by emails, telephone conversations and face to face conversations.

One Dunes Road resident whose garden backs onto the airport resident has been forced to give up his hobby of astronomy and night photography because of the 'orange glow' and high level of light at the airport.

Cllr Loseby has been pushing for Shepway Council action over the increasing number of large and intrusive lights being erected.

After months of correspondence, the planning department has now written to the airport - asking them to confirm if the airport believe they need planning permission for the lights.

In an email to Cllr Loseby in March, Shepway Planning Officer Terry Ellames wrote: "It does appear planning permission is required for the lights, but the airport is being given the opportunity to comment on this further before an application is requested.

"In the meantime, and before the end of the month, I intend to visit properties in Dunes Road and view the lights from elsewhere with our environmental health officer. This is to determine the extent of the problem for planning and environmental purposes, and to then discuss the matter with the airport before any planning application is made.

"You should note the environmental health officer has already visited the area and determined the lighting does not give rise to a statutory nuisance. However, key issues appear to be the height of the lights, the extent of lightspill / impact and whether it is reasonable to require this to be mitigated."

Councillor Loseby was amazed by the response. She commented: "After months of discussions on this, it seems that Shepway Planning Department think the airport lights might need planning permission, but aren't sure! If they don't know, what hope is there?

"A subsequent site visit by Planning Officers did take place later in March - but at 6.30pm before it was fully dark and therefore before the effect of the lights is at its worst.

"These new lights have appeared at the airport over the last year and are having a detrimental effect of the quality of life of the airport's neighbours in Dunes Road. There should have been a full planning process allowing neighbours to have their say - and at the very least, use the planning regulations to minimise the negative impact - make sure they are pointing in only the direction required, minimise light 'spill' and ensure they are only on when required for example.

"For the Planning Department to now claim not to know if the airport needed planning permission seems ridiculous, but hopefully we will see some progress shortly - presumably after LAA have had time to advise Shepway on the airports own responsibilities, and if they feel they have breached the law!"