South Kintyre - potential noise pollution threat?
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:20 pmAnyone else heard about a new plan to site a "Jet Club" at RAF Machrihanish?
Rumour has it that a Glasgow-based consultancy is in advanced talks with the MOD/Defence Estates and HIE (Argyll and the Islands) to establish such a club at the base for a peppercorn rent.
Apparently the sketch is that a group of say 50 ultra-wealthy business people establish the club which then takes ownership of around 10 small private jets which are made available for the members who have their own qualification to fly them.
It would seem that the prospective members of the club have been looking for a quiet, rural, UK location where they can indulge their hobby without worrying about annoying the local population with the extreme noise levels they generate. Having done their research Machrihanish seems to fit the bill as far as they are concerned!
As far as I can see, this could be a potential disaster for the area. The likelihood is that these jets will be continuously in the air during daylight hours around South Kintyre for the whole of the summer seasons, they will be extremely loud and they will make the area less pleasant to live in for all of us on a daily basis. If we throw into the mix the noise impact on visitors to the area - walkers, cyclists, golfers etc. it doesn't bear thinking about. I would also imagine that there could be animal welfare implications if cattle and sheep are regularly buzzed by low flying aircraft.
Okay, I fully understand that we've had jets before and yes, they were noisy, but the frequency of these new flights would be greater and they would be shorter journeys, effectively remaining in the area for most of the time and no doubt seeking to maximise air time for each jet. Thus, noise, noise noise from dawn until dusk.........
Fair enough you are probably thinking, but surely there will be an economic spin-off that will compensate for all this noise?
Er, well no, not really. Firstly, the peppercorn rent would suggest that even the the MOD/DE won't be dining out too often on the income. In fact, it is likely that you would pay more in annual rental for one of the closed shops in Longrow.
Oh, well, but at least we will have fifty ultra-rich people coming and staying in the area while they wait for their shot in the jet. That's bound to make a difference isn't it? Again, no, I don't think so. If they have that kind of money they will book their slot with the club, and arrive directly at the airport by private plane/helicopter and then fly away again once they have finished.
I honestly have no difficulty with concept of people working hard to accrue wealth and use it how they see fit, provided it is legal. What is a problem for me is the possibility that a plaything for perhaps 50 individuals with severe environmental ramifications for everyone living in the area, can be sited here without any consideration for the local population.
I don't expect MOD/DE will comment, but I would throw out a challenge here to HIE to confirm or deny this story and if it is true, to engage with the community to see if a private jet club, which will be accountable to no-one, is high on the list of things we would like to see happening at the airport.
I would be interested to find out whether or not other board members agree with my view
Rumour has it that a Glasgow-based consultancy is in advanced talks with the MOD/Defence Estates and HIE (Argyll and the Islands) to establish such a club at the base for a peppercorn rent.
Apparently the sketch is that a group of say 50 ultra-wealthy business people establish the club which then takes ownership of around 10 small private jets which are made available for the members who have their own qualification to fly them.
It would seem that the prospective members of the club have been looking for a quiet, rural, UK location where they can indulge their hobby without worrying about annoying the local population with the extreme noise levels they generate. Having done their research Machrihanish seems to fit the bill as far as they are concerned!
As far as I can see, this could be a potential disaster for the area. The likelihood is that these jets will be continuously in the air during daylight hours around South Kintyre for the whole of the summer seasons, they will be extremely loud and they will make the area less pleasant to live in for all of us on a daily basis. If we throw into the mix the noise impact on visitors to the area - walkers, cyclists, golfers etc. it doesn't bear thinking about. I would also imagine that there could be animal welfare implications if cattle and sheep are regularly buzzed by low flying aircraft.
Okay, I fully understand that we've had jets before and yes, they were noisy, but the frequency of these new flights would be greater and they would be shorter journeys, effectively remaining in the area for most of the time and no doubt seeking to maximise air time for each jet. Thus, noise, noise noise from dawn until dusk.........
Fair enough you are probably thinking, but surely there will be an economic spin-off that will compensate for all this noise?
Er, well no, not really. Firstly, the peppercorn rent would suggest that even the the MOD/DE won't be dining out too often on the income. In fact, it is likely that you would pay more in annual rental for one of the closed shops in Longrow.
Oh, well, but at least we will have fifty ultra-rich people coming and staying in the area while they wait for their shot in the jet. That's bound to make a difference isn't it? Again, no, I don't think so. If they have that kind of money they will book their slot with the club, and arrive directly at the airport by private plane/helicopter and then fly away again once they have finished.
I honestly have no difficulty with concept of people working hard to accrue wealth and use it how they see fit, provided it is legal. What is a problem for me is the possibility that a plaything for perhaps 50 individuals with severe environmental ramifications for everyone living in the area, can be sited here without any consideration for the local population.
I don't expect MOD/DE will comment, but I would throw out a challenge here to HIE to confirm or deny this story and if it is true, to engage with the community to see if a private jet club, which will be accountable to no-one, is high on the list of things we would like to see happening at the airport.
I would be interested to find out whether or not other board members agree with my view
Is it just me here or i am imagining things??
