DUNFERMLINE and West Fife MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville, MSP for Dunfermline and West Fife, has highlighted her concerns about proposed changes to Edinburgh Airport’s flight paths. 

The proposals are part of Edinburgh Airport’s Let’s Go Further consultation, which seeks the views of local residents and other stakeholders on the potential impact of altering flight paths above Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.

In a meeting with the airport’s chief executive, Gordon Dewar, Ms Somerville pointed out that several of her constituents had written to her, concerned about the potential noise impact of the proposed flight path changes.

Commenting ahead of the closure of the consultation period on September 12, Ms Somerville said: “I had a productive meeting with Edinburgh Airport last month, where I highlighted my constituents’ concerns regarding the proposed flight changes.”

“Whilst I believe that the airport makes a significant contribution to the East of Scotland’s economy, and that it should be allowed to thrive in order to maximise that contribution, I have made it clear to the airport’s representatives that this should not come at the expense of an increased number of people in Dunfermline and West Fife being subjected to aircraft noise.

“During my meeting, I also urged the airport’s representatives to do more to involve all local community councils and area forums in the process. 

"It is vital that community representatives have the opportunity to hear first-hand from the airport, so that they can in turn enable local residents to have their say. 

"For any consultation process to be taken seriously, every opportunity must be taken to ensure that communities have the opportunity to make their voices heard.

“I will continue to engage with Edinburgh Airport and I would encourage West Fifers to do so as well. 

"This is particularly true given that feedback from this first part of the two-step consultation process will be used by the airport to inform the design of more detailed route options.”

Edinburgh Airport’s consultation, Let’s Go Further, was launched in June 2016 and closes on September 12, 2016. West Fifers can respond to the consultation on their website at www.letsgofurther.com/feedback or by writing to the Consultation Co-ordinator, Edinburgh Airport, PO Box 17473, Edinburgh, EH12 1ND.