People living near George Best Belfast City Airport will have the chance to raise any issues they have with the airport's management this week.

Events have been arranged for today and Friday with Dr Liz Fawcett, Chair of the Belfast City Airport Watch Steering Group, commenting: "While we welcome the fact that the airport is beginning to listen to local residents, this event won't make life any better for the tens of thousands of people who suffer from aircraft noise."

Dismissing the event as a PR operation, the former radio journalist who is now a professional public relations consultant said: "Even as it holds its 'charm offensive', the airport is pushing for further expansion through the removal of its passenger limit - a move which would make the noise problem even worse.

-- Advertisement --

"The real responsibility for tackling the noise issue lies with the Environment Minister, Edwin Poots - he needs to say 'No' to any further expansion and to start enforcing the environmental restrictions under which the airport is meant to operate.

"We'd like Minister Poots to begin engaging with local people and to start acting to make their lives more bearable," she insisted.

However, the airport said it hoped the day will clarify matters around the proposed runway extension and give the public the chance to see behind the scenes as it plans to extend the north east end of the runway by 590m.

That's in the face of opposition as there were 1,486 letters of objection sent to the authorities over the extension plans.

Earlier this year, in March, the NI Environment Minister Edwin Poots, said there would be a public inquiry into the plans to extend the runway at George Best Belfast City Airport.

That flies in the face of the airport's argument that the scheme could create 100 jobs and £120m in tourism revenue and the scheme does have backing.

Petitions with 499 names and 2,241 letters of support were sent to the authorities over the scheme.

(BMcC/GK)