Mike Penning has requested a meeting with NATS to discuss proposed changes to flight paths over the Hemel Hempstead constituency.

Hemel MP Mike Penning is seeking a meeting with NATS – the organisation that provides air traffic control services for the UK – to discuss proposed changes for flight paths in and out of Luton.

NATS has launched its ‘biggest ever consultation on airspace change’ this week over its proposals to redraw the aircraft route map over a large part of southern and eastern England.

There has been a considerable increase in air traffic over the past 20 years including a new airport at London City. The traffic has been managed using existing routes, but now NATS has decided that in order to reduce bottlenecks these routes need to be redrawn. There is also the intention to divert routes away from populated areas.

Mike Penning said:

“As Dacorum lies very close to two major airports - Luton and Heathrow – it is no surprise that we are likely to be affected. Inevitably there are going to be winners and losers, so I would urge everyone to visit the NATS consultation website where you can enter your postcode and see how the changes affect you.

“At first glance it does look like some of the more densely populated areas are better off – notably Grovehill and Woodhall Farm,” he added.

Residents can find out how the proposals will affect them on the special consultation website www.consultation.nats.co.uk [1].