CAMPAIGNERS against a controversial Gatwick flight path have taken their fight to the UK's aviation regulator.
The PlaneWrong campaign launched in September after changes to a Gatwick flight path meant thousands of residents in Reigate, Redhill and Dorking suddenly found planes constantly overhead.
The flight path in question – RWY26 – was changed in November last year, meaning planes flew further north thereby affecting more residential areas.
The problem was exacerbated by the introduction of a new airplane guidance system.
Campaigners, who gathered more than 2,000 signatures for a petition against the new flight path, believe there was not enough consultation before the change. Helen Burr, from PlaneWrong, said the group's work has "united communities" blighted by the decision.
Now the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which regulates flying in the UK, is reviewing the RWY26 flight path, which is standard practice a year after it was changed. On December 22, members of PlaneWrong gave their petition to Phil Roberts, CAA's assistant director of airspace policy, with a 44-page document outlining their opposition.
Mrs Burr said: "The PlaneWrong submission is the culmination of two months of work. The document is well-researched, backed by compelling evidence, and advice has been given by aviation experts and environmental lawyers."
She added: "The unprecedented action taken by Gatwick questions the legacy of the Surrey Hills. Residents and businesses alike are suffering from the long-term impact of these changes."
PlaneWrong's battle has been supported by Reigate MP Crispin Blunt and Mole Valley MP Sir Paul Beresford. After the meeting, Mr Blunt said: "Noise disturbance brought on by PR-NAV has unhappily been a top issue for constituents in 2014.
"Letters and e-mails continue to grow in number, and the anger expressed in these, and at the Plane Wrong public meeting I attended in October, is palpable.
"When people are reduced to tears over a new, unpredicted and incessant racket over their homes, I am acutely conscious we must work to address this."
Earlier this month Mr Blunt met with Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate and they agreed the airport will hold its own review of the flight path change.
Gatwick's review is separate to the CAA review, but Mr Blunt said it could lead to the flight path returning to its former route.
In the meantime, members of PlaneWrong are calling on residents to submit their feedback on the flight path to the CAA before the review finishes on January 5.
For information, visit www.planewrong.co.uk
