Lib Dems outrage at being left out of Air Traffic Consultation meeting by Conservative County Council

10.09.04am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 4th Jul 2008

Liberal Democrats are complaining about the behaviour of Conservatives at Suffolk County Council who failed to include Liberal Democrat councillors in an important meeting with National Air Traffic Control Services (NATS).

The consultation to move the current air traffic stacking patterns was announced by NATS, who had requested a meeting with all affected County Councillors back in February. However only one Liberal Democrat councillor was told about the meeting with NATS in May. When Liberal Democrat councillors asked to meet with NATS so that they could voice the concerns of residents in their area, they were told that a meeting had already taken place with Suffolk County council and that no further meetings would be allowed.

County Councillor for Bosmere Julia Truelove, whose area will be affected by the decision said, "It is unacceptable that we have not been consulted. When I asked Cllr. Alcock back in March about a meeting with NATS he was very non-committal in his answer. It was only when Jeremy Pembroke's constituents started to complain that the Conservatives woke up to the fact that proposals to change air traffic stacking patterns were an issue. In the light of the proposals and their implications, we should have all been given the right to listen, to ask and respond to NATS representatives."

Liberal Democrat councillors have lodged their complaint with NATS, requesting an urgent meeting to ensure that their constituent's viewpoints are heard.

Group Leader Kathy Pollard said, 'It is a complete disgrace that we were not invited to the meeting where we could express the concerns of our constituents. This is yet another example of the high handed way in which the Conservatives are treating Liberal Democrat councillors. It seems to be one rule for Conservative councillors and another for everyone else.'

Lib Dem County councillors whose areas are affected are: Cllrs. Penny Otton, John Field, Julia Truelove and Kathy Pollard.