SIR, — Readers need to be aware that National Air Traffic Services (NATS) are out to public consultation on their proposals to redraw the aircraft route map across a large area of southern and eastern England, this being their biggest ever consultation on

SIR, - Readers need to be aware that National Air Traffic Services (NATS) are out to public consultation on their proposals to redraw the aircraft route map across a large area of southern and eastern England, this being their biggest ever consultation on airspace change.

The area covered is Terminal Control North (TCN) and the airspace change proposals (ACP) do have an effect on our area - one of five - being Chilterns and Luton.

TCN airspace is used by many aircraft arriving and departing airports in the London area. Those heading to or from the north and west generally fly over the Chilterns and Luton area. All aircraft arriving or departing Luton Airport, use this airspace and it is also used by aircraft overflying the TCN region at a range of heights above 8,000 feet.

There is a dedicated website at www.nats.co.uk/TCNconsultation which includes a short DVD providing an introduction to the changes and a postcode search facility which enables people to see the flight paths, and the heights of aircraft over their area. There is an online questionnaire enabling people to provide direct feedback.

For those without internet access, copies of the consultation document along with the DVD and leaflets are held in main libraries and the DVD and leaflets relevant to their area have been sent to parish councils.

For St Albans residents there should be a reduction in the number of aircraft flying over the district, but a significant number of flights will remain, particularly some flights from Stansted in the northern part of the district; and certain departures from Luton, particularly easterly departures towards the southwest, which will be concentrated to the south of Wheathampstead and over Childwick Green.

The consultation period closes on May 22 and all feedback will be submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority which decides whether the proposed change can go ahead. If approved the change would not become operational before Spring 2009.

CLLR BERT PAWLE,

St Albans District Council representative on the London Luton Airport Consultative Committee.