Latest news with #FarnboroughAirport
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Airport that serves private jets hit with major backlash over future plans: 'The lowest of the low and the worst of the worst'
Protesters gathered last month outside the Farnborough Airport in Hampshire, England, to speak out against the expansion of this facility, which serves only private planes, the Alton Herald reported. A decision is expected this summer regarding the expansion, which aims to almost double the airport's capacity to 70,000 planes a year by 2040. On April 13, groups including Extinction Rebellion, Alton Climate Action Network, Farnborough Noise Group, and the Friends of the Earth rallied outside the airport with signs bearing messages like "It's plane stoopid." "This will also mean more night flights and holding stacks at 3,000 feet over places like Petersfield and Farnham," said campaigner Colin Shearn, per the Alton Herald. "The impact of these decisions will be felt by future generations in terms of pollution and climate change but more immediately in house prices and noise disturbance." Airports are a difficult enough neighbor as it is, given how they disrupt peace and compromise the air quality around them. When they serve private planes — which produce all that noise and toxic, Earth-warming pollution — for just a handful of people, it adds insult to injury. "Quite frankly, we're opposing that they're here at all," said an Alton protester in a video shot by XR, per the Alton Herald. "We've had the OK from the government to expand Heathrow, Gatwick, and Luton, which is insanity considering the ecological and climate crisis we're facing. "But to expand this airport, which is for private jets, for me is the lowest of the low and the worst of the worst. These are people flying away for the weekend to go skiing." They're not wrong about the outsized impact of private planes. A recent study found that just 250,000 people accounted for private flights worldwide — and that in a year, their travel produced more air pollution than Tanzania, a country of 67 million people. Not only that, but the use of private jets is increasing rapidly, often without any passengers aboard at all. Wasteful air travel like that needs to end if we want to protect both our communities and our planet from the impact of air pollution. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Waverley Borough Council to fight Farnborough Airport expansion
A Surrey council has voted to fight an airport's expansion Airport in Hampshire wants to increase its annual number of flights from 50,000 to 70, Borough Council in Surrey has said this will increase noise and air pollution for its residents, and is writing to the government to airport said it currently generates £1.9bn for the UK economy every year. The proposal, put to Rushmoor Borough Council in 2023, attracted protests by environmentalists outside the Follows, the leader of Waverley Borough Council, said: "Private jet travel benefits only a privileged few, but the environmental consequences will be shared by all - especially communities like ours."We're calling on our MPs and national leaders to reject this short-sighted proposal, that will fail to deliver economic growth for the public at large and prioritise the health and wellbeing of local residents and the planet."Mr Follows has written to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Godalming and Ash MP Jeremy Hunt. Waverley is being supported by Tilford Parish Council, which said the proposed new air corridor would route flights directly over the airport has claimed its environmental impact is less than larger facilities because the aircraft it serves are smaller, and it provides 3,000 jobs.A spokesman for Farnborough Airport said: 'We remain committed to bringing forward our vision."This application has been subject to extensive consultation and we are continuing to liaise with Rushmoor Borough Council officers to enable a decision to be made later this year." Farnham and Bordon MP Greg Stafford said the airport "supports jobs and contributes significantly to the local economy" but that he shares concerns about the proposal."These plans are simply not acceptable in their current form," he added. No date has been set for the application to be heard.A spokesman for Rushmoor Borough Council said: "Rushmoor Borough Council will not be determining the Farnborough Airport Application by 30 June 2025 and is currently discussing with the airport and then with statutory consultees an appropriate revised timetable."This will be published once agreed. Any claims on the timing of the process at the moment are speculation."
Belfast Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Rory McIlroy set for UK return as construction of new family home complete
The Co Down sports star revealed building work on the property near the Wentworth Club in Surrey is now finished meaning it is ready for the champion to move in with his wife Erica Stoll and their daughter Poppy. The couple told the Daily Telegraph that they bought a plot of land in the exclusive private estate which lies less than an hour and a half west of central London – which explains why Rory's private jet landed in Farnborough Airport before he came home to NI last month. 'Straight after Augusta we travelled over to see the house as it was going through the finishing touches,' he told the publication. 'It was fun to see and we could have stayed in it, but we wanted to get over to Holywood.' Rory emerged from his Gulfstream G650ER – commonly known as a G6 – after it touched down at Belfast City Airport to allow him to visit his parents five days after defeating Justin Rose in a nail-biting play-off at Augusta National. The victory saw him become the sixth man to win all four of golf's Majors. Rory is set to move to the new build after the US Open at Oakmont in June. While he has no plans to sell his southern Florida mansion, which he uses as his US base when competing in tournaments there, Rory did hint at the possibility of making his new pad a permanent abode. He will have a major tournaments to get through, including the PGA Championship at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, before moving day. Erica – a native of upstate New York – did not enjoy the heat in Florida and made her desire for a cooler climate known. Netflix docuseries Full Swing featured a clip of German golfer Martin Kaymer speaking to Rory and recalling bumping into his wife. 'I saw her at a Starbucks once, and she said 'I really don't like the sun'. I said 'your state's called the Sunshine State, right?'' McIlroy replied: 'If it was up to her, she wouldn't move to England straightaway, but she definitely wants to spend more time there.' The couple went through a rocky patch last year which resulted in Rory serving Erica with divorce papers. However, he quickly called off the split. Following a brief homecoming trip last month, Rory gushed about how 'amazing' it was to go home and explained that he didn't want 'any fanfare'. 'I tried to keep it as private as possible. I just wanted to see my parents and the people closest to me, including Michael [Bannon, his coach]. "We had a really nice few days.' 'With my dad, I never get that emotional but it was great to see him. Then when I saw my mom − yeah, we were both a mess for a few minutes. As time goes on and I'm getting older, I realise that they're not going to be around forever and it means even more that they were still around to be able to see me fulfil my dream.'
Metro
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Tom Cruise hides 'girlfriend' Ana de Armas while leaving David Beckham's party
Tom Cruise has failed miserably when attempting to hide Ana De Armas after they left David Beckham's birthday party together in the middlea of the night. Over the past few months, the Mission: Impossible and Top Gun star, 62, has been spotted with the No Time to Die Bond girl Ana, 36. In February they were snapped on a night out in Soho, London on Valentine's Day, holding takeaway bags and hopping into a taxi. A month later they were seen at London Heliport after using Tom's aircraft the day before. Then, last week, they were again photographed together, this time after taking a ride in his helicopter at Farnborough Airport. Now the pair, who are rumoured to be dating, attended David Beckham's 50th birthday in London. On Friday night the retired footballer hosted a celebration for his milestone birthday at the three Michelin star restaurant Core in London's Notting Hill. David and his family – including wife Victoria and their children Romeo, Cruz and Harper – were snapped at the event, with his eldest son Brooklyn and wife Nicola Peltz notably absent. The dinner was also attended by Gordon Ramsay and his wife Tana, Guy Ritchie, Eva Longoria and Gary Neville. Although Tom arrived at the party alone, in the early hours of the morning he was seen leaving with Ana. Around 3.30am they left through a back door of the venue, being shielded by umbrellas before jumping into the back of a waiting car. Despite their best efforts to be subtle Tom, who was looking bleary-eyed, appeared to find it quite amusing and was spotted laughing and smiling. However, Ana kept her head down to avoid them being photographed together. A source previously shut told the Daily Mail that 'everything with Tom and Ana is innocent'. 'They are hanging out to talk about future movies that they could do together,' they said. 'One of those ideas is the Days of Thunder sequel that Tom wants to get off the ground. It is currently in its infancy. 'He's talking [to Paramount] about and it's going to be what comes together first in terms of a script. It depends on the idea and, ultimately, the script.' The Cuban-Spanish actress Ana previously dated her Deep Water co-star Ben Affleck from March 2020 to January 2021. She was also previously married to Spanish actor Marc Clotet, but they divorced in 2013. More Trending Meanwhile Tom has been married three times – to Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990, Nicole Kidman from 1990 to 2001 and Katie Holmes from 2006 to 2012. Last year he was linked to singer Victoria Canal, 26, however she shut down reports and called them 'literally bonkers'. Last year Ana was also linked to the stepson of controversial Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Metro has contacted representatives for Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas for comment. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Brooklyn Beckham's wife Nicola Peltz shares emotional post after missing David's 50th birthday MORE: Inside David and Victoria Beckham's £12,000,000 Cotswolds mansion with jaw-dropping outdoor spa MORE: Beyonce avoids 'serious injury after major stage blunder'
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Residents release smoke flares at airport that serves wealthy travelers' private jets: 'Unacceptable'
A new proposal for airport expansion in Hampshire, England, is being met with significant protests. The BBC reported that in response to Farnborough Airport recently submitting plans to increase its annual flight limit from 50,000 to 70,000 planes yearly, organizers from environmental advocacy groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Farnborough Noise, and Blackwater Valley Friends of the Earth blocked the airport's front entrance in response, releasing smoke flares into the air and holding signs in protest. When asked for comment, Steve Williams, the environment lead for Waverley Borough Council, said, "Aviation has no realistic prospect of becoming sustainable in the near future, so any form of airport expansion is unacceptable, given the climate crisis." Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. One of the groups' specific issues with these expansion plans is how they plan to increase the number of private flights leaving Farnborough every year. Private planes are infamously large producers of carbon dioxide, a fact that has attracted significant attention in recent years as tracking data surrounding various celebrity private planes has become more publicized, and private jet usage has increased. In a statement related to the protests, Extinction Rebellion stated that "The 33,120 private flights to and from Farnborough Airport last year carried an average of just 2.5 passengers per flight, with each passenger responsible for the emission of nine times as much carbon as an economy flight to the US and 20 times that to Spain. Currently 40% of flights to and from the airport are empty." It summed up, stating, "For the limited benefit it provides to a small number of people, private aviation has a disproportionately large impact on climate change due to its high carbon emissions." Rushmoor Borough Council has yet to make a decision on the proposed increase in flights, but it is in line with the British government's plans to increase economic growth through airport expansions and the use of more sustainable fuel sources. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves recently supported a similar initiative at London Heathrow, as well as with smaller airports in Luton and Gatwick. If private airfare expansion is part of those plans as well, expect protests to take place at those airports soon. As one protestor put it succinctly, "[It's] unacceptable that a tiny number of very wealthy people award themselves the right to fly in private jets, emitting huge amounts of carbon." Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
