Blog Our main consultation response It’s not too late, but it will be soon… Leaflets of Joy! Avia Report Night Flights – all over again Half a megatonne short of success TDC commission report on Manston’s viability as an airport Fighting for every tonne Slipshod, slapdash and plain unprofessional Eighteen planes every night for Herne Bay? All those documents… The end of night flights CPO finally ruled out at Manston Deciding Manston’s future The uncomfortable truth about aircraft tear-down Public support Stone Hill Park consultation Manston: testing times Stone Hill Park – the new name for the Manston airport site That PwC report. At last! So what? What’s been happening, and where we are Living alongside a successful airport CPO is a last resort, and we’re not even close Ramsgate and Herne Bay – the sacrificial lambs Shameful secrecy, disgraceful conduct Keeping up appearances, keeping up hope Gale: veering and backing Roger Gale – joker or knave? WTF – Who’s Tony Freudmann? Manston bullseye CPO – Couldn’t Possibly Occur Government not interested in Manston Manston does NOT have to be an airport Manston airport owners reveal images of masterplan Manston airport didn’t work, and neither will RiverOak’s plan Manston isn’t on everyone’s radar Great unanswered questions – No. 1 in an occasional series RiverOak – a fish out of water Ann Gloag named on Sunday Times Rich List 2015 Ukip manifesto pledge to re-open Manston Election 2015: All women panel at Thanet hustings event Ukip leader Nigel Farage attacks rivals over Manston Airport interest Thanet District Council local election listings: candidates by ward Who wants your vote in the local election? Manston airfield radar stops working Manston Airport campaign gets boost Manston airport: owners consider reporting Tories to Electoral… Transport minster says hopes of reopening Manston airport given… Airport site plans are simply fantasy Airport ‘reopening plan’ backed TG Aviation set for mediation with Manston airport site owners 11 things Sunday Times journalist Camilla Long didn’t tell you… Outrage as article describes Thanet as similar to Chernobyl and like ‘a small module of erupted spleen.’ Plain Jane: Meet the candidates for the Green Party SuMA ‘shocked’ by KCC Manston airport report KCC statement calls for Manston airport ‘Plan B’ Manston airport lost £100 million under private ownership and time for a ‘B Plan’ says Kent County Council report Government proposal to extend Discovery Park Enterprise Zone to… PwC appointed to review decisions made on Manston airport Shadow transport secretary: government slow to act on Manston… KCC leader Paul Carter says MPs’ report on Manston is a travesty of the truth BACA calls for Manston airport to reopen MANSTON AIRPORT: Thanet council leader says no evidence of KCC… MPs want airport deal out in open KCC slammed in Transport Select Committee’s Manston airport… Rally planned to mark one year since Manston airport closure… Former youth commissioner Kerry Boyd to stand in local elections Government to review airport CPO Minister John Hayes announces review over Manston Airport Transport Minister makes Manston airport announcement Campaigners say Manston should be reliever airport in letter to… Lib Dems call for “Team Thanet” approach on Manston Government pledges help to see Manston reopened Aviation minister unclear on Manston airport site ownership Plans revealed for 20-acre solar farm next to Manston airport… Airport committee chairman hits out at Sir Roger Gale Manston loses search and rescue Bristow Helicopters could move search and rescue service to Lydd… Have your say in Manston’s future Have you seen Pub Landlord Al Murray’s billboard? Transport Minister John Hayes visits isle for Manston airport… County Hall U-turns an enlightening experience HSE make enquiries after Manston airport industrial accident MANSTON: Key players grilled by MPs in Parliament over closure of… Transport Select Committee – public hearing Pub Landlord Al Murray visits Thanet as FUKP leader Man injured in ‘airport explosion’ BREAKING: Worker suffers ‘serious’ head injury at Manston airport Air ambulance lands at Manston Airport’s former owner ‘misled MP’ Manston airport: Transport Select Committee grill key players Future of Manston Airport in Ramsgate to be discussed at Westminster today Transport Select Committee set to hear evidence on Manston… KCC want your views on new Thanet Parkway station Planning blueprint’s airport ‘optimism’ Manston airport: no further action on CPO until information… TDC’s draft Local Plan says that Manston could still be an airport Airport purchase rejection called in Council panel calls in decision not to proceed with Manston… My wish: let the planes fly again from Manston Fracking fears highlighted by Campaign for the Protection of Rural England amid concerns to county’s aquifer and water supplies RiverOak Airport owners have feet on the ground Petitions NIMBYs Transport Select Committee – written submission Letter to Discovery Park RiverOak’s proposed CPO deal with TDC Why is RiverOak an LLC? And what is an LLC anyway? How to do a CPO, properly. How to do Due Diligence, properly. Manston Solved Iris Johnston hasn’t heard from you, doesn’t think you exist… Roger Gale showing double standards Lack of flights was terminal for airport Mansion supporters are deaf to the truth Peace comes at a high price for area If you don’t like the noise you can move I couldn’t disagree more with Myra What about those now unemployed? Thanet needs jobs, not more houses Manston has been here for decades Planes were noisier and closer in past Airport is part of our local heritage Council must issue a CPO for Manston Exaggerated claims on airport closure Compulsory purchase order option for airport Peace comes to Herne Bay at last Back the fight for council buy-out of Manston airport What is real reason for closing airport? MP wants by airport to be bought by council Manston airport to close this week Manston airport must remain open Official: Manston to close next week Manston bid rejected Someone wants to know if you want night flights Manston, elections, and money Aircraft noise? Wait for what’s coming I feel like I have been conned Manston airport is a national asset Successful afrport would do more bad Manston should be expanded, not shut Manston closure: press coverage and video clips Manston now consulting on NOISE Manston air show had its problems, but is this the way forward? Infratil aims to offload loss-making UK airports Airbus A380 for training at Manston for three weeks Heathrow closes – TWO planes diverted to Manston Airports write-down lead to Infratil profits plunge Flight Blight Manston’s rat-plane nose-dives in Dublin A hill of beans Why throw good money at bad airport? Council throws good money at bad airport AWP postponement explained Airport Working Party meeting Tuesday 19th Feb Bean Ban Bombshell Agenda for Public KIACC meeting Game-changer – Manston to stop being an airport Blackballed KLM-Manston: news reports KLM-Manston: reactions KLM-Manston: analysis No sign of Prestwick airport sale Hurrah! A Public Meeting at Manston! Charles Buchanan’s brave face BBC Radio Kent airport debate in Rochester Infratil Airports Europe; right ingredients wrong outcome All aboard the 4.20am flight to Amsterdam? Fan mail Airport Working Party: unprepared A reader writes Infratil is selling Manston, but wants to buy Stansted. Why? Rival group enters battle for Stansted airport KCC’s contribution, for what it’s worth Night Flights vote – political views Night Flights vote – press coverage Night Flights vote Thursday 24th May Crunch vote on Manston night flights coming soon Location matters more than night flights No Nightie Flights! TDC oppose Manston Airport night flights Sparks fly over AWP fiasco Thanet Airport Working Party 4th April Herne Bay people power Thanet rejects Manston night flights Consultation results Herne Bay rejects Manston night flights Planning permission for Manston Manston closure full of surprises BAWC Airport CEOs upbeat Reality hits home, Infratil leave town Manston Pickle Manston’s imaginary friends Night flight blight triggers house price crash CPRE response to the public consultation You say (35) You say (34) You say (33) Today’s the day! Upping the ante You say… what you think You say (32) You say (31) You say (30) You say (29) You say (28) You say (27) You say (26) You say (25) You say (24) You say (23) Mixed reaction to consultation Bus day in Ramsgate SNAFU at TDC Public Consultation Caption competition The antidote to night flights – all aboard! Elephant in the room: the biggest lies hide in plain sight You say (22) You say (21) You say (20) You say (19) You say (18) You say (17) You say (16) Open letter, simple question You say (15) You say (14) You say (13) You say (12) You say (11) You say (10) You say (9) You say (8) You say (7) You say (6) You say (5) You say (4) You say (3) You say (2) You say (1) Cut out the middleman Tannoyance Groupthink At last, Herne Bay gets a mention Night Flights? No thanks! Night Flights? No thanks – and here’s why… Public consultation starts on Manston’s night flying proposal Tit for tat at TDC Manston in damage limitation mode The nasty niceties of planning Laura Sandys gets political Number one fan Olympic meddling Knight vision Study casts doubt on night flight benefits CPRE aren’t impressed Council’s consultation details Report highlights night flights hype Council breaks its silence Airport and Council to break silence Council Report Pans Night Flights Proposal Night Flights are for Freight Location, Location, Location Employment – when will it ever grow? Noise Nuisance Under-stated Planning Problems Night flights do not mean jobs, says report 44 flights a night at Manston? TDC’s update on night-time flying proposal Flybe, Manston, night flights and the truth KCC says Manston is the short term answer to airport shortage Doing battle with a naked Emperor Estuary Airport – hot potato, fig leaf, or white elephant? Formal consultation on UK aviation Boris shoots own foot in sympathy Cameron shoots everybody in the foot, himself first More airport expansion Manston villagers only got half the story CAA: exemplary regulator or lickspittle lackey? Trevor wants a Parkway Man moves house, Manston issues press release CPRE says night flights at Manston will not boost business CAA wants more runways Foley’s folly David Foley backs night flights That was then… Threat to night time flights bid Seasoned greetings… Flybe quit Manston: analysis Flybe quit Manston Clive Hart, night flights and pre-election pledges Quick question Thanet the Movie: Welcome to the Casting Couch Manston to stop fuelling Iran Air: pure coincidence? Manston’s Hall of Shame Being hung might be the best outcome Life under the flight path: 2 Thanet’s favourite map Life under the flight path Manston out-performed by a small hole in the ground Yanks for the memory Infratil selling Prestwick… Manston next? Manston winces in the glare of publicity New hub airport for the south-east Desperate times call for desperate customers Great public speaking Good Luck! NOT the longest runway Night Flights: Public Meeting Manston: there’s no fine print to read Worst Thanet movie ever… Sanctions busting at Manston Urgent need for environmental assessment Campaigners anger at bid to introduce night flights Support from CPRE Protect Kent Labour denies night flight U-turn Thanet Movies Manston Parish Council: night flights meeting Manston: “Airports could go out of business” Number-crunching Manston’s 2012 schedule Manston Aircraft Noise Maps “Night flights would boost business in Thanet” says airport Manston makes night-time submission Plans for Manston Airport night flights See the future, then decide The Night Flight Proposals 2011 Oh. There goes another one. Woken in the small hours, 25th October Night Flight proposals to be outlined on Radio Kent 28th October 11am Clown makes a serious point That KIACC meeting, in a nutshell Does Manston already have a night flight schedule? KIACC 21st October KIACC meeting TDC has lost control of Manston Psst! Want to buy an airport? Outlook gets gloomier for Infratil Noise monitoring at Manston Airport CPRE Protect Kent Flybe plummets Woken in the small hours, 5th October Manston’s dreams and nightmares Manston dragging its heels over night flights Infratil complaints Liberty Hall Green vs Greed Sleep tight before the night flights bite Sleep-shattering noise? Grand. Fine. Fly over Ramsgate all you want. Whatever. Manston swept away Iran Air at Manston Glasgow kiss-off Wouldn’t it be a huge boost for the local tourist industry if Manston could actually develop a viable passenger business? What about the hundreds of indirect jobs the airport will create? Is it true that every 1 million passengers creates 1,000 jobs? Cllr David Green writes: Surely we can trust Infratil’s numbers? If it’s in the Master Plan, it must be right. Right? Over 2,000 airport jobs if Manston gets night flights – isn’t that great? Consultation news Straight from the horse’s orifice… A reader writes (to Bob) Needle and threat Open and Shut Basket Case 1 Open and Shut Basket Case 2 Sticky numbers A reader writes Jul 2011: most read Big Apple pie in the sky Job losses at Manston Airport Woken in the small hours, 10th July Air Passenger Duty Why Steer Davies Gleave? Airport Working Party neutered? Motionless Transatlantic plans for Manston Night Flights: too hot to handle? Trickle of funding for Manston Parkway Woken in the small hours, 1st July MAG quits KIACC as noise worries are ‘ignored’ Jun 2011: most read Infratil Annual Results 2011 Manston unmonitored TDC seeks Regeneration chief. GSOH essential. Talks continue over airport job losses Increasing interest in Southend Airport EasyJet commits to Southend Airport Council reveals unsuccessful bid to develop Manston services Manston calls for ‘congestion charge’ on bigger airports Manston boss claims it wasn’t a “sweetener” £600k airport ‘sweetener’ Air Anon at Manston Motion calls for a policy on scheduled night flights Sound-activated video recording A closer look at that bid Yet another job forecast KCC’s empty begging bowl Protesters claim research is misleading In Manston, no one can hear you scream… Belfast route opens Where do Manston’s job forecasts come from? Manston’s Master Plan Airport campaigner’s anger over ‘secret’ bid Readers write May 2011: most read Manston’s job forecasts Airport expansion could bring 3,500 jobs Prestwick: Coming to the end of the runway? BBC: Biased Broadcast Coverage? Another bid for Night Flights Manston boss and KCC make bid to government for east Kent regeneration cash Virginia Ramsgate chooses Beauty not Blues Our Chosen Few Manston is still a hole in the ground Whoops Apocalypse! Labour’s red letter day at expense of Tories Night flights stance ‘clinched seats’ Advisory group recommend no night flights at airport Nothing to smile about Manchester “unsustainable”. Belfast “attractive”? Dont rely on Manston Manston boss backs campaign for fair air fuel Oympics to generate “hundreds more flights” We love Keith Taylor… Decision nears on runway waste plan Biggin Hill. Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky. The Parkway Station fiasco develops New station ‘would help airport lift off’ TDC and Infratil: “no contact” TDC Airport Working Party Airport gets new radar system – to prevent mistakes Thales supplies surveillance radars to Kent airport Manston night-flying consultation delayed Political Posturing on Night Flights Manston Night flight plans grounded Consultation stops before it starts Lovely Posters Residents rally on night flights at public meeting in Chatham House School Labour’s ‘no’ to flights at night Gale keeps digging TDC Labour Group reject night flying application Night flights may not be answer for jobs MP accused of U-turn LETTER: lost business Gale’s View on night flights (Feb 2009) Night flight debate over east Kent rages on as consultation nears Gale’s View on night flights (Oct 2010) Gale’s new opinion: part 1 Gale’s new opinion: part 2 Gale’s new opinion: part 3 More from the rumour mill… Public consultation: the next steps Politicians Against Night Flights Infratil top brass come to Kent Public get the chance to air views on airport expansion plans Clear boundaries Sleepless in Thanet Night Flights Chairman sorry after complaints The consultation and the election timetable Night flights plan requesting take-off Herne Bay is ‘the fall guy’ for night flights Public set to be asked for views on night flights from Manston airport Sleepless in Ramsgate Meeting? What meeting? Calling All Whistleblowers QQQQQQQQQQQ! Questions for TDC for the consultation Manston Noise Assessment Questions, questions Ramsgate Town Council consultation Flight path? What flight path? Resident storms stage at meeting Exchange of views Night flying proposal 2010 Night flights: Herne Bay gets screwed How not to chair a meeting Part 2 How not to chair a meeting When is a schedule not a schedule? BAP report on Night Flights Warning to TDC and Infratil over Manston nightflight-nightmare Manston’s future: public meeting Kent International Airport boss Charles Buchanan to release night-flight plans From Manston to Manchester in 70 minutes Pilot says planes do not need to fly over Ramsgate from or to Manston Many flights not needed KIACC – public meeting Manston: healthy and safe? Hitch with noise monitor Elite property agency to market business park Who knows how noisy Buchanan hails return of scheduled flights Consultation to follow flight figures New boss says airport can boost Thanet Manston as seen from afar New chief appointed at Manston airport Manston-Edinburgh flights start Jobs created at Manston for Flybe flights Flights dilemmas FlyBe Bombardiers at Manston FlyBe to run Scotland route from Manston 21st century Kent Thanet to play a crucial role in 21st Century Kent Index Aviation links Passenger flight plans grounded at Manston Cost of airport flights consultation revealed Public Consultation 2009 Quiet wisdom Wiggins’ routes discovered Noise map of Kent Manston Parkway Station Hypocrisy In a nutshell: Noise Manston eco-village Anger as Kent leader stays away from Manston meeting Paul Carter Voice of dissent In a nutshell: airport manners In a nutshell: Manston Airport Working Party, 19 May 2009 Nightmare airport Minster Parkway train station en route? WriteToThem.com Are night flights restricted? Night flying fuels fresh Manston airport fight Manston is sellable Manston airport sale “not ruled out” An airport’s not the best route to regeneration KIACC examine night flights KIACC public meeting Cargolux in international criminal conspiracy Location, location, location matters for airports too Curved approach flight paths Infratil’s flawed bid By their logos shall ye know them The bid for BAWC night flights CCC’s Regeneration Department Manston is a poor investment Brazier’s assertions Recycling Manston Airport Brazier’s mistake Manston keeps failing. What next? YES WE CAN: make it work YES WE CAN: sleep YES WE CAN: enjoy being awake YES WE CAN: monitor Better monitoring needs better radar Changes to airport master plan No case for night flights Freight over-stated Fanciful employment figures British Airways reject Manston airport The very thought Elected and supportive City leader names BA as mystery firm Cargo flights fear for Herne Bay Furore over fast track for night flight plans It’s D-Day for Manston night flights BA plans cargo flights from Manston More night time flights for Manston? Gale’s View: Manston Manston could help ease strain of games Air freight fuel costs In a nutshell: Night Flights The Background Story Airport growth ‘flight of fancy’ Airport hopes to soar above crunch Six million passengers for Kent airport Misery for Manston as tour operator collapses Carter prefers Manston to Boris Island How much did KCC’s trip to USA cost the public? Cosmos pulls out of Manston as US flight plans grounded Travel agent is to be based on-site at Manston airport US flights a £20m annual boost to county’s economy Airport without radar until end of the year Bookings start for Manston flights to Virginia Council told to disclose legal advice over night flights Direct flights to USA from Manston next year Direct air link to US cleared for take off Passenger flights to America from Manston planned Kent’s investment in US event “value for money” Airport’s new owners ‘in for the long haul’ KCC defends £100,000 airline gamble charge Questions still remain over EUjet collapse EUJet doomed from the start Council promises ‘hard negotiations’ with airport New era dawns at Kent airport Airport broke night flight rules Manston “overlooked” by airport planners It’s your choice, Manston told Manston not told of rival airport Storm gathers over airport leak Manston: Timeline Share tweet