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Edinburgh Reporter
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Steps to be taken to reduce impact of fighter jet flypasts over Edinburgh
A new register could allow concerned locals to be notified before fighter jet flypasts over the capital. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo told councillors at a meeting on Monday that they would take further steps to reduce the impacts of flypasts on the capital – but insisted they would continue. The move followed a call by Green councillor Dan Heap to ban fighter jet flyovers over the city outright. That was rejected by councillors, as officers warned that the city could not legally restrict them through licensing law. But councillors did vote to have the Regulatory Committee convener, Liberal Democrat councillor Neil Ross, write to the relevant UK Government minister about the issue. Cllr Heap's motion was originally heard at May's full Edinburgh Council meeting, but was referred to the city's Regulatory Committee. It cited the environmental impact of flypasts, as well as the noise impacts it had – especially on people fleeing war – in the city as reasons for banning the events. He said: 'It is disappointing the Regulatory Committee didn't feel the need to look at what powers we might have to end the flypasts. 'But I welcome the Tattoo's recognition in the meeting today of the concerns raised, and offer to explore a better notification system, so that residents can sign-up to be notified when they will happen, so they can take steps to protect themselves.' Most flypasts over the capital happen as a part of the tattoo's shows at Edinburgh Castle throughout the month of August. Around five of them are scheduled to happen during every year of the tattoo, but they are sometimes cancelled due to poor weather conditions. Jason Barrett, chief executive of the tattoo, told councillors: 'It was notable to us just how significant this issue is to many. It's with that we look at this with care and consideration. 'We wouldn't be the tattoo if we didn't have [the flypasts] there. The RAF is something that's been part of the fabric of the tattoo for 75 years. 'It is a spectacle. It is a part of the spectacle for our tattoo. Part of that spectacle is the flypast. There are not many, typically there are about five.' Barrett also told the committee that the tattoo had recently taken steps to reduce the impact of flypasts on Edinburgh residents. This included reducing the number of fighter jets used in flyovers, with two-thirds of the planes used in flypasts being other kinds of aircraft, like cargo and anti-submarine jets. He further said that the tattoo would explore having the jets fly higher, and that it was in talks with the RAF on seeing if the jets could use sustainable aviation fuel. Conservative councillor Jo Mowat asked Barrett: 'On communication with residents, obviously those people who struggle with the sound of jets will know that they are, but we don't know they are. 'Is there a sign-on system so they can get a notification when we publish that schedule?' He replied that it was something the tattoo would explore, suggesting that a system could be established where concerned residents could sign up on its website. Green co-convener, councillor Susan Rae, asked: 'Is it entirely necessary, given that the tattoo has evolved over decades, is a flypast actually necessary to add to that spectacle? 'What is it that a flypast does? Do we need to have that? We have from 5,000 to 7,500 refugees in this city. And that's just one cohort of people that find this disturbing.' He replied: 'The short answer is, no, probably not. But I think you can apply that to other parts of the tattoo. 'I think it's a slippery slope at that point, in terms of what is and what isn't necessary. If they went away, would the tattoo continue? Yes. 'But would it be as exciting, as thrilling? No, it probably wouldn't be as good.' Cllr Ross put forward an amendment to the motion that said the council could not legally take action on the issue, but which tasked him with writing to the relevant UK Government minister about aircraft flypasts. The amended version of the motion won out over the original, by a vote of five to four. By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
20-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh ban on Red Arrow flypasts rejected as notification list for residents suggested
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A new register could allow concerned locals to be notified before fighter jet flypasts over the capital. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo told councillors at a meeting on Monday that they would take further steps to reduce the impacts of flypasts on the capital – but insisted they would continue. The move followed a call by Green councillor Dan Heap to ban fighter jet flyovers over the city outright. That was rejected by councillors, as officers warned that the city could not legally restrict them through licensing law. But councillors did vote to have the Regulatory Committee convener, Liberal Democrat councillor Neil Ross, write to the relevant UK Government minister about the issue. Cllr Heap's motion was originally heard at May's full Edinburgh Council meeting, but was referred to the city's Regulatory Committee. It cited the environmental impact of flypasts, as well as the noise impacts it had – especially on people fleeing war – in the city as reasons for banning the events. He said: "It is disappointing the Regulatory Committee didn't feel the need to look at what powers we might have to end the flypasts. 'But I welcome the Tattoo's recognition in the meeting today of the concerns raised, and offer to explore a better notification system, so that residents can sign-up to be notified when they will happen, so they can take steps to protect themselves.' Most flypasts over the capital happen as a part of the tattoo's shows at Edinburgh Castle throughout the month of August. Around five of them are scheduled to happen during every year of the tattoo, but they are sometimes cancelled due to poor weather conditions. Jason Barrett, chief executive of the tattoo, told councillors: 'It was notable to us just how significant this issue is to many. It's with that we look at this with care and consideration. 'We wouldn't be the tattoo if we didn't have [the flypasts] there. The RAF is something that's been part of the fabric of the tattoo for 75 years. 'It is a spectacle. It is a part of the spectacle for our tattoo. Part of that spectacle is the flypast. There are not many, typically there are about five.' Barrett also told the committee that the tattoo had recently taken steps to reduce the impact of flypasts on Edinburgh residents. This included reducing the number of fighter jets used in flyovers, with two-thirds of the planes used in flypasts being other kinds of aircraft, like cargo and anti-submarine jets. He further said that the tattoo would explore having the jets fly higher, and that it was in talks with the RAF on seeing if the jets could use sustainable aviation fuel. Conservative councillor Jo Mowat asked Barrett: 'On communication with residents, obviously those people who struggle with the sound of jets will know that they are, but we don't know they are. 'Is there a sign-on system so they can get a notification when we publish that schedule?' He replied that it was something the tattoo would explore, suggesting that a system could be established where concerned residents could sign up on its website. Green co-convener, councillor Susan Rae, asked: 'Is it entirely necessary, given that the tattoo has evolved over decades, is a flypast actually necessary to add to that spectacle? 'What is it that a flypast does? Do we need to have that? We have from 5,000 to 7,500 refugees in this city. And that's just one cohort of people that find this disturbing.' He replied: 'The short answer is, no, probably not. But I think you can apply that to other parts of the tattoo. 'I think it's a slippery slope at that point, in terms of what is and what isn't necessary. If they went away, would the tattoo continue? Yes. 'But would it be as exciting, as thrilling? No, it probably wouldn't be as good.' Cllr Ross put forward an amendment to the motion that said the council could not legally take action on the issue, but which tasked him with writing to the relevant UK Government minister about aircraft flypasts. The amended version of the motion won out over the original, by a vote of five to four.
STV News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Call for ban against flypast aerial displays over environmental concerns
Aerial displays over the capital could be banned over environmental and noise pollution concerns, according to plans put forward by an Edinburgh councillor. Flypasts take place every year for the Edinburgh Military Tatto in August, and sometimes happen as part of other events as well. Now Green councillor Dan Heap has brought a motion to the city council to explore banning the displays. And he said the noise disturbance it causes – and the potentially traumatic impact flypasts can have on people fleeing war – were grounds to try and get rid of them. Cllr Heap told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: 'We want to reduce these to, preferably, zero, but at least get fewer. 'The main user of these, the Edinburgh Tattoo, has already decreased them, there's fewer than there used to be. 'But it has a number of flight paths of jet aircraft during the tattoo, which is in August – it's purely for entertainment.' He also said that the city's Green group believes the negative environmental impacts of the displays are severe. He continued: 'I've been trying to get a hold of what the precise emissions are from these particular jets, and that's not public – but I found some other military jets. 'And they have significant carbon emissions. And yes, it's a relatively brief flyover, but they're flying from airbases that aren't near Edinburgh. 'Sometimes they come from Lossiemouth [in Moray], or from an airbase in England. So they're flying quite a long way. 'And yes, it might seem like the flight is relatively short over the castle, very short, but you've got to factor in the time they're flying to and from the air base.' Cllr Heap said that while passenger flying was currently essential, air displays are purely for entertainment. The motion aims to use licensing to restrict the number of air displays in the city, given that the events that involve them require public entertainment licences. Cllr Heap envisions a public safety element or some other reason being adhered to event licences that bans flypasts, but he says officers would be better equipped to explore what using licence conditions to ban flypasts would involve. The motion, if passed by councillors, would call on officers to present a report on ways in which such a ban could be enacted by the August full Edinburgh council meeting. It also says that displays involving drones or model aircraft would be allowed. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Edinburgh Reporter
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Aerial displays could be banned over environmental and noise pollution concerns
Aerial displays over the capital could be banned over environmental and noise pollution concerns, according to plans put forward by an Edinburgh councillor. Flypasts take place every year for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo every year in August, and sometimes happen as part of other events as well. Now Green councillor Dan Heap has brought a motion to the city council to explore banning the displays. And he said the noise disturbance it causes – and the potentially traumatic impact flypasts can have on people fleeing war – were grounds to try and get rid of them. Cllr Heap told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: 'We want to reduce these to, preferably, zero, but at least get fewer. 'The main user of these, the Edinburgh Tattoo, has already decreased them, there's fewer than there used to be. 'But it has a number of flight paths of jet aircraft during the tattoo, which is in August – it's purely for entertainment.' He also said that the city's Green group believes the negative environmental impacts of the displays are severe. He continued: 'I've been trying to get a hold of what the precise emissions are from these particular jets, and that's not public – but I found some other military jets. 'And they have significant carbon emissions. And yes, it's a relatively brief flyover, but they're flying from airbases that aren't near Edinburgh. 'Sometimes they come from Lossiemouth [in Moray], or from an airbase in England. So they're flying quite a long way. 'And yes, it might seem like the flight is relatively short over the castle, very short, but you've got to factor in the time they're flying to and from the air base.' Cllr Heap said that while passenger flying was currently essential, air displays are purely for entertainment. The motion aims to use licensing to restrict the number of air displays in the city, given that the events that involve them require public entertainment licences. Cllr Heap envisions a public safety element or some other reason being adhered to event licences that bans flypasts, but he says officers would be better equipped to explore what using licence conditions to ban flypasts would involve. The motion, if passed by councillors, would call on officers to present a report on ways in which such a ban could be enacted by the August full Edinburgh council meeting. It also says that displays involving drones or model aircraft would be allowed. By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
05-05-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh 'ban' on Red Arrows and RAF fighter jet flights proposed
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Aerial displays over the capital could be banned over environmental and noise pollution concerns, according to plans put forward by an Edinburgh councillor. Flypasts take place every year for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo every year in August, and sometimes happen as part of other events as well. Now Green councillor Dan Heap has brought a motion to the city council to explore banning the displays. And he said the noise disturbance it causes – and the potentially traumatic impact flypasts can have on people fleeing war – were grounds to try and get rid of them. Cllr Heap told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: 'We want to reduce these to, preferably, zero, but at least get fewer. 'The main user of these, the Edinburgh Tattoo, has already decreased them, there's fewer than there used to be. 'But it has a number of flight paths of jet aircraft during the tattoo, which is in August – it's purely for entertainment.' He also said that the city's Green group believes the negative environmental impacts of the displays are severe. He continued: 'I've been trying to get a hold of what the precise emissions are from these particular jets, and that's not public – but I found some other military jets. 'And they have significant carbon emissions. And yes, it's a relatively brief flyover, but they're flying from airbases that aren't near Edinburgh. 'Sometimes they come from Lossiemouth [in Moray], or from an airbase in England. So they're flying quite a long way. 'And yes, it might seem like the flight is relatively short over the castle, very short, but you've got to factor in the time they're flying to and from the air base.' Cllr Heap said that while passenger flying was currently essential, air displays are purely for entertainment. The motion aims to use licensing to restrict the number of air displays in the city, given that the events that involve them require public entertainment licences. Cllr Heap envisions a public safety element or some other reason being adhered to event licences that bans flypasts, but he says officers would be better equipped to explore what using licence conditions to ban flypasts would involve. The motion, if passed by councillors, would call on officers to present a report on ways in which such a ban could be enacted by the August full Edinburgh council meeting. It also says that displays involving drones or model aircraft would be allowed. Cllr Heap's motion will be discussed at the next full meeting of Edinburgh Council on Thursday, 8 May, which you can view here.
