Row breaks out after Birmingham Airport night flights decision

Councillors have clashed over Birmingham Airport being granted permission for more night time flights amid concerns it will affect the council's climate change targets. The Local Democracy Reporting Service first revealed last October that BHX applied for changes. The airport warned the West Midlands region could lose out on millions of pounds if approval was not given to more night time flights.

And during a Solihull Council planning meeting last month planners agreed to an increase from 5 per cent to 7.3 per cent more night flights across the year. One of the members of the committee who voted against the plan was Green Party councillor Mark Wilson.

At the latest full council meeting the Smith's Wood councillor challenged the cabinet holder for climate change, Councillor Andy Mackiewicz, on the impact the decision would have on the air to reduce emissions following the authority declaring a climate emergency in 2019. Coun Mackiewicz told councillors: “An emergency is an emergency.

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“We are committed to our climate change declaration to be net zero in our own council operations by 2030 and as a borough by 2041.” Coun Wilson then said: “The aviation industry is a key contributor to climate change, emissions, global warming etc.

“It is not just a global matter. It does affect us locally, we have had flooding in my ward.

“How are you going to square the circle between this increase in flights and the increasing climate emergency? There was a lot of opposition from residents to the decision.”

Councillor Mackiewicz said: “The planning committee has a very good record on climate protection, they take that seriously. The committee determines planning applications based on policy and proper process.

“I cannot tell the committee what to do. When we discuss climate change the only way we are going to make progress in this borough is a thriving economy.

“Our council emissions are one per cent of the borough’s emissions. The borough’s emissions is only one per cent of the country’s, and the country’s is only one per of the world’s emissions.

“We must not at any point put on our hair shirts, affect employment, employability or other matters for the sake of a gesture. I’m not going to judge this decision either way, it’s made through a proper process.

“We are making positive actions - actions make progress. The airport is a distraction, it really is.

“We know the Labour Party are keen to expand Heathrow Airport. We are not expanding Birmingham, we are just allowing more night flights.”