'Absolutely crucial': Doncaster Sheffield Airport consultation to begin next month
A public consulation on reinstating Doncaster Sheffield Airport’s airspace is to start next month, it has been announced.
The consultation is part of the multi-stage process being carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority in assessing the application for returning the airspace, with a final decision expected next year.
The consultation will be open for comment from August 3 and run until October 4.
Residents will be invited to view detailed plans and submit their views via an online consultation portal, with several in-person events also due to be held. Additionally, interested parties can view physical copies of the documents associated with the consultation at 14 locations in the local area.
Christian Foster, Director for FlyDoncaster Ltd, operators of Doncaster Sheffield Airport said: “A reopening project of this scale includes a number of important milestones, but being able to go out to public consultation around our airspace is one that is absolutely crucial.
"We want to hear the views of people from across Doncaster and beyond, so that they can have a meaningful say about the airspace connected to this airport. As a community asset, it’s vital that we engage with those who live and work nearby to us and ensure we listen to the views of local people.
“Reaching another milestone in this process allows us to accelerate the good work that has already been done to engage with airlines and operators, helping to ensure that we can reopen the airport in a safe and successful manner. We continue to build an expert team to help us do that and we look forward to hearing the views expressed during the consultation.”
A now-deleted CAA document ‘uploaded in error’ this week said DSA’s preferred option for reinstating airspace is one involving a proposal which is due to require less airspace but requiring a “fundamental redesign” of flight paths compared to previous arrangements. The same document also warned DSA’s passenger forecasts “are likely to be assumption-driven and speculative based upon tentative commitments from airline operators that the sponsor is entering into".
In-person events will be held on August 13 at Bawtry Mayflower School, on August 19 at St. Joseph’s Parish Centre in Worksop, on September 2 at Finningley Village Hall, on September 10 at Thornesians Rugby Club in Thorne and on September 19 at The Corn Exchange in Doncaster.
The consulation portal will go live from August 3 at: https://consultations.airspacechange.co.uk/doncaster-airport/dsa-airspace/