Biggin Hill Festival of Flight 2019 – Saturday 17th to Sunday 18th August

BIGGIN HILL FESTIVAL OF FLIGHT 2018

BIGGIN HILL FESTIVAL OF FLIGHT 2018

https://lbhacommunity.co.uk/

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2017

When VE Day dawned on 8th May 2020 it was 75 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe. Years of carnage and destruction had come to an end and millions of people took to the streets and pubs to celebrate peace, mourn their loved – ones and to hope for the future, but not forgetting those still in conflict until 15th August when it was announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War II.

The 75th anniversary provided our nation, and our friends around the world, with an opportunity to reflect on the enormous sacrifice, courage and determination of people from all walks of life who saw us through this dark and terrifying period. To commemorate this important time we are organised VE Day 75, a three-day international celebration that took place from 8th May to 10th May 2020.

It was an opportunity for us all to remember the enormous sacrifices that were made at home and abroad and to joyously celebrate as people did 75 years ago, the arrival of peace in Europe.

BIGGIN HILL AIRPORT UPDATE – IMPORTANT – The Council will sit again on 25th March (Scrutiny Committee) and 27th March (Executive) at 7.00pm to review operations at the airport. For the first time in eight years the report submitted by officers for councillors’ consideration shows understanding and, importantly, acknowledgement of the main issues (most of them). However, yet again, the report proves that the Council is unwilling to show any teeth against its tenant, who has clearly been a recalcitrant party at the negotiating table. After six months, none of the Council’s requests has been accepted by BHAL and what is it proposed that the Council do? The proposal is to give BHAL yet more unquantified time of “business as usual” while residents are expected to suffer more summers of hell. Unless councillors decide to impose sanctions (the Council has legal means to challenge the Airport), what incentive will BHAL have to accede to the Council’s requests? We are all tired and mistrustful of Bromley Council, but let us acknowledge that, after eight years, it has at last started to face the issues. THAT IS ONLY DOWN TO PUBLIC PRESSURE. Therefore, please do not give up now. Write to your ward councillors, copying airport.monitoring@bromley.gov.uk, expressing a strong request that sanctions be imposed on BHAL if they do not co-operate within a short deadline. Please attend the public meetings, particularly the one on 25th March (7.00pm, Council Chamber at the Civic Centre in Stockwell Close, BR1 3UH) but, if you can’t, that meeting is also live-streamed at www.bromley.gov.uk/councilmeetingslive. Click on the link at 7.00 pm and it should come alive. Although we have all had enough of empty words, it is important to continue to exercise pressure and ask for ACTION. The link will allow you to follow proceedings without skipping dinner, or worrying about putting the children to bed, or sitting on hard benches. The Council will be able to see the number of viewers. If you want to read the full report that will be discussed, you will find it at pages 133 to 166 of https://cds.bromley.gov.uk/documents/g7635/Public%20reports%20pack%20Wednesday%2027-Mar-2024%2019.00%20Executive.pdf?T=10.
Do not give up!

BIGGIN HILL AIRPORT UPDATE – IMPORTANT – The Council will sit again on 25th March (Scrutiny Committee) and 27th March (Executive) at 7.00pm to review operations at the airport. For the first time in eight years the report submitted by officers for councillors’ consideration shows understanding and, importantly, acknowledgement of the main issues (most of them). However, yet again, the report proves that the Council is unwilling to show any teeth against its tenant, who has clearly been a recalcitrant party at the negotiating table. After six months, none of the Council’s requests has been accepted by BHAL and what is it proposed that the Council do? The proposal is to give BHAL yet more unquantified time of “business as usual” while residents are expected to suffer more summers of hell. Unless councillors decide to impose sanctions (the Council has legal means to challenge the Airport), what incentive will BHAL have to accede to the Council’s requests? We are all tired and mistrustful of Bromley Council, but let us acknowledge that, after eight years, it has at last started to face the issues. THAT IS ONLY DOWN TO PUBLIC PRESSURE. Therefore, please do not give up now. Write to your ward councillors, copying airport.monitoring@bromley.gov.uk, expressing a strong request that sanctions be imposed on BHAL if they do not co-operate within a short deadline. Please attend the public meetings, particularly the one on 25th March (7.00pm, Council Chamber at the Civic Centre in Stockwell Close, BR1 3UH) but, if you can’t, that meeting is also live-streamed at www.bromley.gov.uk/councilmeetingslive. Click on the link at 7.00 pm and it should come alive. Although we have all had enough of empty words, it is important to continue to exercise pressure and ask for ACTION. The link will allow you to follow proceedings without skipping dinner, or worrying about putting the children to bed, or sitting on hard benches. The Council will be able to see the number of viewers. If you want to read the full report that will be discussed, you will find it at pages 133 to 166 of https://cds.bromley.gov.uk/documents/g7635/Public%20reports%20pack%20Wednesday%2027-Mar-2024%2019.00%20Executive.pdf?T=10.
Do not give up!

Unable to attend his meeting!

Flightpath Watch was notified yesterday by Bromley Council that Biggin Hill Airport Ltd (BHAL) has applied to change the Permitted User Clause of the Lease to include the acceptance of fare-paying passengers.

At present only flights chartered for business use, private flying and a few other minor categories are permitted. The introduction of fare-paying passengers will, without any doubt, increase the number of large aircraft and could very likely be the precursor to the introduction of scheduled flights, with the associated changes in local infrastructure.

For your information, the promised 50,000 cap on movements cannot be applied going forward because the language used by the Council to define it totally negates its applicability after the first five years. The noise parameters approved by the Council are also unhelpful because they are based on average measures over 16-hour periods, including periods of silence.

It also needs to be noted that BHAL has so far failed to respect certain important aspects of the NAP (Noise Action Plan) and the MIL (Management Information Letter). Any further concessions to the terms of the Lease would therefore be unreasonable.

This application is as serious for residents as the application to increase the operating hours at the airport in 2014. Because of lockdown, over the past year we have not been seeing the full effect of the increase in operating hours and BHAL is now making more demands.

Residents need to react quickly to lodge objections because the application will be discussed at the meeting of the Council Executive on 26th May 2021. This short timeline is probably due to the BHAL’s threat to take the Council to a Tribunal if the request is not approved by 2nd June 2021.

The request to carry fare-paying passengers was successfully fought off by the Council at the High Courts in 2002. It was also rejected in 2011 when some loosening was requested on the occasion of the Olympics.

Informal advice given to us in 2015 stated that the Property Law clause BHAL is now trying to use with reference to “the Tribunal” cannot be applied in the case of Biggin Hill airport because of its connection with a local authority and not a private landlord.

Nevertheless, we have seen the Council become progressively more and more biased towards the Airport and we cannot underestimate the seriousness of this threat, particularly in the absence of an effective 50,000 cap on flights.

Please write to your councillors as soon as possible and certainly by 23rd May 2021, with a copy to the Leader of the Council, who will chair the meeting of the Executive next week, to express your objections in the firmest possible terms. Reasons to be given can be derived from our comments above. For instance: the Permitted User Clause is fundamental to the Lease as originally granted with the aim of protecting local residents the 50,000 cap had a 5 year limit which will soon expire
the longer operating hours have already attracted large and low-flying aircraft over residential areas the NAP and the MIL are not being complied with in certain important parts and no more concessions should be considered in the current circumstances residents are being discriminated against in net favour of the Airport, or any other expression of how increased activity at the Airport would affect you.

The email address of the Leader of the Council is: Colin.smith@bromley.gov.uk and you will find your councillors at the following link:
https://cds.bromley.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1

You can also help by cascading this information to your neighbours, friends or local organisations who you think will be affected if the Council agrees to this change.

Please do not put this off. Drop a few lines now just addressing those issues that affect you.

Thank you for your help

Flightpath Watch Ltd

VE Day 2020: Britons celebrate 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day

• Queen’s VE Day anniversary message to Britain: ‘Never give up, never despair’ ​
• How to celebrate VE Day from home
• How Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret celebrated VE Day in 1945
• VE Day 2020 celebrations, in pictures
• ​’Advance, Britannia!’ How Winston Churchill’s speeches enraptured his nation
• ‘I’ve always been an optimist’: Interview with Captain Tom Moore

The nation came together, even when forced apart by lockdown, to remember the end of war in Europe and mark 75 years since VE Day.

The Queen said the message of VE Day is “never give up, never despair”, remembering the sacrifices of the Second World War generation in a poignant speech. 

She said their lasting legacy “is that countries who were once sworn enemies are now friends, working side by side for the peace, health and prosperity of us all”.

Despite swathes of events and swarming parades being cancelled because of the coronavirus lockdown, the UK found ways to come together to pay tribute to those who served in the era-defining global conflict.

The day began with a national two minute silence at 11am, which gave Britons the opportunity to pause and reflect, remembering the lives lost and sacrifices made in wartime.

Then the RAF’s Red Arrows also roared over parts of the UK, in a special flypast to mark the anniversary.

Following the Queen’s speech, people were invited to open their doors and windows and take part in singalong of Dame Vera Lynn’s “We’ll Meet Again”, which has once again become a symbol of hope for Britons during the coronavirus pandemic.

Thank you and goodnight 

Despite swathes of events and swarming parades being cancelled because of the coronavirus lockdown, the UK still found ways to come together for the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

Before we sign off for the night, here is a round-up of how people across the nation honoured those who served in the Second World War.

‘Never give up, never despair’

The Queen reminded Britain to “never give up, never despair” in a moving message to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, speaking with pride to a nation she said Second World War heroes would still “recognise and admire”.

The monarch, who delivered a special address at 9pm – just as her father had done at the end of fighting in Europe – said she “vividly” remembered the “jubilant scenes” that had marked triumph after the bleak uncertainty of war.

As the nation commemorated the anniversary in lockdown amid the coronavirus crisis, she paid tribute to the strength, courage and sacrifice of so many who died for the freedom of others, saying: “We should and will remember them.”

Queen’s message resonates during lockdown

The Queen’s message to the nation as part of the VE Day anniversary celebrations will resonate with the public amid the coronavirus pandemic, a royal expert has said.

Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said of the address: “This is as relevant today as it is for the occasion it’s commemorating 75 years ago.”

He added: “The Queen is the only surviving head of state to have served during the Second World War and this is an appropriate reaction to something that is so personal to her.”

The Queen tells of how the message on VE Day in 1945 was: “Never give up, never despair.”

“It very much resonates with the situation we find ourselves in right now,” Mr Little said. “There are some remarkable similarities, where the Queen says ‘Never give up, never despair’.

“That was the message of VE Day but really that message can be applied to the present day. So clearly that must be what she had in mind when this was being drafted.”

We’ll Meet Again

 Following the Queen’s address, people were invited to stand on their doorsteps and sing Dame Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’. 

The song has once again become a symbol of hope for Britons during the coronavirus pandemic.

So tonight @OliverMcGrath decided to play We’ll Meet Again to our street after the queens speech and so many people came out into the street for a dance and a sing #VEDay #streetparty #wellmeetagain

WELCOME

When VE Day dawns on 8th May 2020 it will be 75 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe. Years of carnage and destruction had come to an end and millions of people took to the streets and pubs to celebrate peace, mourn their loved – ones and to hope for the future, but not forgetting those still in conflict until 15th August when it was announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War II.

The 75th anniversary will provide our nation, and our friends around the world, with an opportunity to reflect on the enormous sacrifice, courage and determination of people from all walks of life who saw us through this dark and terrifying period. To commemorate this important time we are organising VE Day 75, a three-day international celebration that will take place from 8th May to 10th May 2020.

It will be an opportunity for us all to remember the enormous sacrifices that were made at home and abroad and to joyously celebrate as people did 75 years ago, the arrival of peace in Europe.

Stanhope Arms’ regulars in Brasted are currently attempting to buy the pub from current owners Greene King and run it as a community pub. As part of the process, a short online survey is currently open, to gauge the level of support for the venture and collect views on the kind of pub that people want to see.

Complete Survey

At the same time, the community group is looking to raise money to purchase the freehold and getting it ready to open for business through a community share issue. Anyone with an interest in the Stanhope – and with an interest in being a part-owner of a pub! – is welcome to complete the online survey. Anyone wanting more information, including about the share issue, is welcome to email the community group at  stanhopearmscommunitypubcic@gmail.com    The Stanhope Arms was part of the original Black Eagle Brewery’s pub estate until the brewery’s closure in 1965