Rushmoor Borough Council have chosen to extend the period in which the airport’s planning application to increase flights and size of aircraft is to be determined.

This extension is for various reasons but most notably to consider further information requested by Rushmoor from the airport. Rushmoor will consult again based on this new information and will consult those previously included but will extend the consultees further to include those affected by noise.

A full report on this update can be found on Rushmoor’s website here and as shown below:

Details of the current planning application that includes increasing the number of flights at Farnborough airport.

Update on when the planning application will be determined

It was our aim to determine the planning application in March 2024, to meet the 16-week statutory deadline for environmental impact assessment applications.

However, due to the need for additional information (please see below) and the statutory consultation periods, meeting this March deadline is no longer possible.

Due to the considerable public interest in the item and the upcoming pre-election period, we cannot determine the application during this time. The application will now go to a planning committee after the May elections.

At this stage, we expect that the application will be considered by our Development Management Committee during the summer. We would like to avoid the school holidays if possible.

We will be publishing updates about the application, including when the application will go to committee on this web page, and we send them to everyone who has already commented on the application.

Our request for additional information

On 24 January, we made a request to Farnborough Airport Ltd for additional information and clarifications on their application.

This took the form of a Regulation 25 and a S.73 additional information request.

Farnborough Airport Ltd, on 29 of January, submitted additional information and we are currently reviewing this.

We will do a public consultation on the new information that we have received, but we will only consult once we have received all the information required to reach a decision.

We may make further information requests to the applicant if we decide this is necessary.

All comments that we already received will still be considered when we determine the application in the summer.

Consultation on the application

In November 2023 we sent a consultation letter to all properties, including residents, businesses and schools,  in the inbound and outbound flight paths of the airport within the borough of Rushmoor.

We also consulted with the councils and parishes within local authority areas that lie within the 7,000 ft flight path of Farnborough Airport.

We placed newspaper adverts to publicise the consultation in local authorities within the 4,000 ft flight path of Farnborough Airport. 

Following legal advice, we will be extending the consultation area on the planning application.

Extending the consultation area

All those who have been consulted previously or who have commented on the application, will be consulted again on the additional information that we receive from the applicant.

All properties within the projected Noise ‘Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level’ (LOAEL) area will also be consulted about the planning application – including those who fall within this area but are outside of Rushmoor.

This extension to the consultation area for the planning application is based upon the predicted noise impacts of the proposals on residential properties.

To determine if a property is 'affected' by noise for the purposes of consultation, we have adopted a criterion of a +3dB change between the lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) and the significant observed adverse effect level (SOAEL) and 2dB above SOAEL. This approach has been used by other airports and has been tested in the courts.

The planning application we received in November 2023

On 6 November, Farnborough Airport Ltd submitted a planning application to:

• Increase the maximum number of annual aircraft movements from 50,000 to 70,000 per annum, including an increase in non-weekday aircraft movements from 8,900 to 18,900 per annum

• Amend the aircraft weight category of 50,000 to 80,000 kg to 55,000 to 80,000 kg, and an increase from 1,500 to 2,100 aircraft movements within this category, including an increase from 270 to 570 annual aircraft movements for non-weekdays

• Replace conditions numbers 7 (1:10,000 risk contour) and 8 (1:100,000 risk contour) of the existing planning permission with a new condition to produce public safety zone maps in accordance with the Civil Aviation Authority/Department for Transport requirements

The council validated the application on 10 November, and the planning application reference number is 23/00794/REVPP.

You can review the documents submitted with this planning application on our planning applications website.

Because there are a large number of documents associated with this application, you may want to use the 'filter by' function to help you search for a particular document. You can see a list of all documents submitted with the planning application, including versions, in the Farnborough airport planning application documents list.

Hard copies of all the documents are also available to view at the council offices and at Aldershot library and Farnborough library during opening hours.

How to comment

The deadline for us to receive comments was Sunday 17 December, which is in line with statutory timescales. This is an extension on the original deadline of 4 December. It is at our discretion to accept additional comments after the deadline.

Comment by using our planning applications system

Submit your comments about the Farnborough airport planning application

If you use our planning applications website to provide your comments on the application, there is a 500-character limit for your main comments.

Once you start completing your form for comments, there is also a 30-minute time limit. After 30 minutes, the form will reset, and you will have to start the form again. Therefore, we recommend that you prepare your comments before you start typing them into form.

Comment by email

You can also send in your comments by email at farnboroughairport@rushmoor.gov.uk, where there is no limit for the length of your comments.

If you have any questions, please contact us using the contact details below. 

We are expecting a significant number of public comments and enquiries. We therefore ask for your patience and understanding during this time as we process them. 

We will not be able to reply to consultation comments because of the volume we expect to be submitted.

Contact us

Farnborough airport consultation

01252 398 018 farnboroughairport@rushmoor.gov.uk

Farnborough Airport has submitted an application to Rushmoor Borough Council to change the conditions of their existing planning approval on how the airport can operate.

The application has considerable consequences for areas surrounding the airport, for some distance and flight corridors, therefore it is important for residents of Seale & Sands to understand the effects these changes will have on our village.

Noise is probably the most notable disruption caused to residents by aircraft from Farnborough Airport (FAL). The airport is seeking to increase the aircraft movements from 50,000 to 70,000 per year. There are a couple of points to consider regarding this variation: 1 - currently, aircraft movements are circa 33,000 per year where 8,900 of those are at the weekend (the maximum allowable movements at the weekend) so we are not yet experiencing the full extent of what is permissible. 2 - the variation seeks to increase the weekend movements to 18,900, more than doubling the number of flights currently experienced at the weekend.

FAL, are also looking to increase a size category of aircraft from 50,000-80,000kg to 55,000-80,000kg (essentially 737 size aircraft with capacity to carry 85-215 people) and increase the number of movements from 1500 to 2100 annually and increase the weekend movements from 270 to 570 - this is on top of the 18,900 other movements on weekends. It is not fully clear what the impact of changing the weight category will be; FAL suggest this will allow for quieter aircraft however this is unproven and would depend on whether any new approval includes specific conditions limiting noise from this category. What is clear is there will be more disruption due to an increase in movements.

It should also be considered that FAL have permission for ‘non-reportable flights’, essentially these aircraft movements do not count within the figures above but have an effect on us nevertheless.

They are also looking to change how risk to the public by aircraft operations ie. Flight movements, is determined.

During the pre-application consultation FAL considered extending their operating hours, though this has been dropped from the application.

There are over 70 documents associated with this application, many of which are technical (noise monitoring, socio-economic benefits, air quality, bio-diversity impact and more). The Parish Council has decided that we are not in a position to challenge these technical details associated with the application and how FAL represent them, though there are other councils and bodies that have.

If you are disturbed by the aircraft movements currently, it is fair to say this change will increase the disturbance caused and consideration should also be given to additional pollution we may experience.

The Parish Council encourages you to respond to this application and you have until Sunday 17th December to do so.

Access the documents here and use the application number in the search bar: 23/00794/REVPP

Seale Village Hall Committee invites you to join them for a glass of mulled wine and a great opportunity to meet old and new friends at this years Christmas Cheer, Saturday 9th 6-8pm at Seale Village Hall.

There will be nibbles and a bar selling wine, beer, mulled wine and soft drinks.

Children are welcome and the committee looks forward to seeing you there.

For the Fallen

Poem by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943), published in The Times newspaper on 21 September 1914.

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Seale & Sands Parish Council launched its own WhatsApp group today so we can announce news and information concerning the parish.

This group is exclusively for official announcements related to our beautiful village and surrounding areas. It is not a discussion forum, so you'll only receive important updates.

🌟 Benefits of Joining:

- Stay informed about your community, news, and alerts in real-time.

- Be part of a more connected and informed village.

Further information about what we post will usually be found here on our website and will also be discussed at our public meetings.

🔒 Your privacy is important to us, and your contact information will not be shared outside of the group.

Join the group by clicking this link. Please pass the link onto your neighbours within the parish.

If you have any questions or need assistance or wish to discuss any of the matters raised, please feel free to contact us via email clerk@saspc.info

Let's make our village life even better together!

More volunteers are required to help maintain momentum of monitoring our roads. Volunteering is straightforward and requires a simple online test and a 20 minute roadside training session.

Surrey Police supports and monitors the roadside speed watch sessions.

Interested residents can contact speedwatch@sealeandsands.org

Surrey CC are to undertake works on Blighton Lane adjacent to the North Down’s Way path to help alleviate flooding.

The verge on the west side of the highway will be removed so water can drain off the highway naturally.

The Parish Council is also looking at further options to help mitigate flooding here.

Surrey CC as part of a national incentive has launced a campaign to encourage more of us to become foster carers.

Currently only 42% of fostered children in Surrey are placed with in-house foster carers and the Council is hoping to raise this to 70%. Problematically, almost half of these live outside of the county, far away from family, friends and schools, hence the need for more carers.

A moving short film, funded by over 80 Councils is here.

For more information you can telephone Surrey Fostering Service 0800 096 9626 or via email at fostering.recruitment@surreycc.gov.uk or by visiting the website: www.surreycc.gov.uk/fostering. You can also connect with them on social media via @surreyfostering 

Surrey County Council have widened the reach of their On-Demand Bus Service after trialling in Mole Valley.

Anyone can use the service which costs £2 per journey. Passengers starting from Seale & Sands can travel within the area shown on the map below. Effectively, the bus service will take you as far as 7 miles, which allows for other bus and train connections for onward travel. More information about the service can be found here.

Travel can be booked by using Surrey Connect mobile app, via the Surrey Connect website or by telephoning Farnham and Cranleigh DDRT: 01428 681710.

Under 21’s can travel for £1 if they register first for a LINK card

Residents are alreadyt using the service and it’s achieving good feedback.

Surrey County Council have made an emergency road closure in Seale due to an oil spill. If any resident was a witness to the incident which occurred around 5:50 p.m. yesterday (19th September) and have any photos/dashcam footage the Damage to Council Property team would like to hear from you. They can be contacted by email on dcp.claims@surreycc.gov.uk

Farnborough Airport are seeking views from residents about their proposals to submit a planning application that amends their current allowances on aircraft movements (70,000/a), operating hours (7am - 9pm), number of weekend aircraft movements (18,900) and size of aircraft (55-80 tonnes), all of which are looking to be increased over the current allowances, some by more than double.

We hope that every resident has received their consultation flyer from the airport through their door but if not we have included it here. We are encouraging all residents to engage with this consultation.

If you have concerns / comments to make please send an email to contact@farnboroughairport2040.com and copy in our Surrey County Councillor Matt Furniss and us: clerk@saspc.info so we can guage resident opinion which we can use in our own correspondence with the airport, CAA and SCC. Alternatively you can telephone the airport consultation on 0808 164 606.

For any normal concerns / comments or complaints please continue to use the contact details show in our earlier post: How to make a complaint to Farnborough Airport. Emails to: complaints@farnboroughairport.com

The airport is holding drop-in consultation events as follows:

Farnborough College of Technology, Boundary Road, Farnborough GU14 6SB Wednesday 20th September 5:30-8:30pm

Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square, Farnham GU9 7QR Thursday 21st September 4-8pm

West End Centre, 48 Queens Road, Aldershot GU11 3JD Saturday 23rd September 10:30am-1:30pm

The Harlington, 236 Fleet Road, Fleet GU51 4BY Tuesday 26th September 4-8pm

Lakeside International Hotel, Wharf Road, Frimley Green GU16 6JR Thursday 28th September 4-8pm

Farnborough College of Technology, Boundary Road, Farnborough GU14 6SB Saturday 30th September 10am-3pm

All their exhibition materials will be available on their website from Wednesday 20th September, along with an online feedback form.

The first Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) instigated by Farnborough Airport (FAL) has been implemented for a few years now and the Post Implementation Review period is complete and the reports from FAL are currently being scrutinised by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Since the implementation we are all in a better position to judge the effects of the airspace change on the residents of Seale & Sands. Our perception of how it affects us will differ according to the wind direction since FAL use their runway differently depending on the prevailing wind.

For easterly wind they use runway 06 and aircraft depart to the East then turn and cross the Hogs back near Seale. Aircraft arriving will generally not overfly us as their approach is over the Church Crookham area.

For westerly wind they use runway 24 (it’s the same physical runway, just named differently). Here, the departing aircraft will overfly the Church Crookham area so will generally not bother us, however, arriving aircraft will as they use a similar corridor to those departing when using runway 06.

It is more likely departing aircraft will be more of a concern for us when the wind is easterly and using runway 06 and especially due to Performance Based Navigation flights (PBN). Part of government’s strategy was for fewer people to be overflown when adjusting airspace however we feel this is at the expense of the few — thankfully this strategy is changing. PBN flights means the aircraft will follow the exact same set of route co-ordinates when departing the airport and travelling through the airspace which results in every aircraft overflying the exact same location en route.

Aircraft arriving, when using runway 24, tend to use the whole width of the corridor which helps to disperse them away from the exact same flight path. More residents will be affected by arriving aircraft but less often due to the distribution across the corridor.

FAL have started a new ACP and have teamed up with Heathrow and Gatwick airport’s who are doing the same, all as part of government’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy. We see this as an opportunity to have our say; we are better informed now as we learned a lot through the previous process and having seen the effects after the implementation of the first ACP. To enable us to have a louder voice during the new ACP we are asking residents who are affected to make a complaint to FAL. These complaints are recorded and form part of an ongoing agreement (part of their planning approval) to report all complaints by area, which are scrutinised by FAL, Farnborough Airport Consultative Committee and Rushmoor Borough Council. Complaints will also face scrutiny by the CAA as FAL’s new ACP progresses, therefore it is important to complain if you feel it justified.

FAL have received thousands of complaints so don’t think you’ll be in the minority, mostly relating to noise, but you can complain about whatever you like regarding an aircraft using FAL, such as noise, flying to low, not within flight corridors, flying out of permitted hours etc.. Other issues you may wish to complain about are regularity of overflying the exact same location or the height at which they fly over an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which by FAL’s own admission should be around 5000ft yet they barely make 3000ft when departing runway 06.

You can find out details about any aircraft using FAL by going online to WebTrak Farnborough Airport. Here, you can follow flights, albeit with a 30min delay and look at historical data. It shows the type of aircraft, number, altitude etc. and if you plot your property on their map it will tell you how far the aircraft is away from you. You can use this info to better inform yourself and FAL when you complain.

Much more info about FAL’s operations can be gained from the FACC website including all previous meetings, complaint reports, documents and more.

Complaints relating to Airport operations should be submitted:

By telephone: 01252 526001

By email: complaints@farnboroughairport.com

Online: WebTrak Farnborough Airport (emsbk.com)

By post: The Sustainability Manager, Farnborough Airport Ltd, Farnborough Airport, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6XA

*More information to come*

Will Godwin, Farm Manager at Hampton Estate will present their Puttenham Common Ecological Restoration Project at our meeting in July. This meeting will be at Seale Village Hall and starts at 19:30.

This is another opportunity for residents to understand what Hampton’s action plan and vision is for the Common.

In the meantime, they are hosting another community drop in event at the top car park on 8th July between 08:00 and 12:00.

Blighton Lane will be closed from the 5th September for 4 nights from 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. for Lining Works, there will be no parking along the road during this time.

The works are scheduled to start on 5th September however, this is subject to change change, often due to bad weather or problems on other works in the same programme which can have a knock-on effect. If anything changes with the details of these works, we will let you know. 

Residents can also find up to date details of the works on www.surreycc.gov.uk/roadworks 

Updated 23rd June.

You may view an updated PDF presentation here or read all the content of the document below.

Additional Community drop-in:

Saturday 8th July 8:00 – 12:00

Puttenham Common

PPuttenham Common is 180 hectares of priority habitats (a mosaic of lowland heathland, dry acid grassland, rush pasture, purple moor grass, fen, boggy mires, mixed deciduous woodland and wood pasture) which include parts of Puttenham and Crooksbury Commons SSSI (conditions are currently a mixture of unfavourable and favourable) and the Lower Puttenham Common and Halesmoor Wood Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI). The area is within a B-Line and we are a key delivery partner in the Heathlands Connections Nature Recovery Project (facilitated by Natural England). Heathland Connections is one of the national Nature Recovery Network Projects, connecting heathlands across the Surrey Hills.

The area is owned by the Hampton Estate, with an Access Agreement signed in 1968 between Hampton Estate and Surrey County Council, to facilitate public access across the Common. Surrey Wildlife Trust have also historically been involved in land management across the Common. The land is registered as Common Land. There are five car parks that are free of charge to the public, enabling access to the common. The North Downs Way long distance trail passes in a west – east direction along the northern edge of Puttenham Common. This trail runs 256km from Farnham to Dover. Puttenham Common provides access to nature for a large population. The site includes multiple walking and cycling trails and is a very popular location for dog walking. The site is also home to the remains of Hillbury Hillfort and Ancient Farm, a Scheduled Monument which we manage in partnership with Historic England.

Critical green space in one of the most populated areas in the country.

Ecological restoration at Puttenham Common

• Hampton Estate, with the support of ecological consultants EPR, has developed a 100 year vision for Puttenham Common - to create a restored, biologically diverse heathland landscape with low-level rotational extensive grazing of a herd of traditional beef cattle, biologically-rich restored wetlands (with the aim of reducing wildfires across the Common), thriving heathland species, sustainably managed public access, an active volunteer group and nature- based community.

• ‘There is a very limited area of land in Great Britain that is suitable for the restoration of such habitats, as each requires certain geology, soil and hydrological conditions that are spatially very limited. In short, the area covered by this Management Plan represents a very uncommon opportunity to deliver substantial biodiversity enhancement.’ – Puttenham Common Management Plan 2022, EPR.

• There is now a 10-year management plan in place to kick start the heathland restoration across Puttenham Common, supported in part by the recent Countryside Stewardship Offer (of January 2023).

• There is a significant funding gap in the project and additional funding would enable the delivery of more nature restoration, improved climate resilience, better ecological monitoring, an improved visitor experience, increased access to nature and public engagement with the nature recovery project. Hampton Estate will be exploring options for novel financing of the project.

100 Year Vision :

‘The long-term vision for Lascombe/Little Common and Puttenham Common Main and Lower, is a restored, biologically diverse heathland landscape with low-level rotational extensive grazing of a herd of traditional beef cattle.’

Aim of the 10 year management plan

Restore, enhance and maintain lowland heathland (wet and dry), lowland dry acid grassland, wetland habitats, bogs and mires.

‘There is a very limited area of land in Great Britain that is suitable for the restoration of such habitats, as each requires certain geology, soil and hydrological conditions that are spatially very limited. In short, the area covered by this Management Plan represents a very uncommon opportunity to deliver substantial biodiversity enhancement.’

What are we actually going to do?

• Tree and scrub cover removal

• Reintroduce grazing (No Fence collars)

• Bracken control

• Create new wood pasture

• Restore the boggy mires

• Improve water quality

• Preserve archaeological heritage of Hillbury Hillfort

• Public engagement

• Monitor ecological changes

• Maximise the value of access for public health, wellbeing and enjoyment

Project outcomes

Healthier rare habitat - More species abundance and diversity - Better access to green space - Enhanced condition of the SSSI - Health benefits for an urban population

Bringing people with us - positive engagement - education and intrigue - a sense of stewardship

Potential conflicts : dog behaviour, neospora, tree felling.

Public Engagement Plan

Dog behaviour policy - Website and social media campaign - Press releases - Community drop-ins - Open Farm Sunday - Volunteer Group - Signage - Meet the cows drop-ins - BioBlitz

Community drop-ins:

Monday 5th June 1000 – 1600 Friday 9th June 0700 – 1300 Weds 21st June 0700 – 1300

Saturday 8th July 8:00 – 12:00

We want to move Puttenham Common from being a collection of dog-walkers to an engaged nature-loving community who enjoy and care for this special landscape .

Data monitoring and citizen science

Plants, fungi, butterflies, birds, reptiles, invertebrates, bats, pollinators, lichen and more!

Bioblitz planned for 2024

Visitor data, carbon sequestration, hydrological monitoring...

Contact for questions :
Molly Biddell mollybiddell@hamptonestate.co.uk

Please note some of our contact details have changed.

The Sands Room has kindly allowed the Parish Council to install a post box for our use, so we now have a new mailing address of:

Seale & Sands Parish Council c/o The Sands Room, The Green, The Sands, Farnham, GU10 1LL

This is for mailing only and we do not have a physical Council office. The Sands Room and its committee has no connection with the Parish Council.

Our new telephone number is 01252 279767.

If you call, you may be asked to leave a message and our Clerk will respond accordingly. Please bear in mind the Clerk is a part time role so your call may take several days to be returned.

We would be grateful if you can remove any previous numbers you may have for the Council as these are no longer used for Council business and only contact us via the new number or email clerk@saspc.info.

Due to changes in the Borough boundaries, our Ward of Pilgrim’s is now served by two councillors.

Matt Furniss and Sallie Barker were voted in as our new Guildford Borough Councillor’s, both Conservative, however the Liberal Democrats hold the majority for the Council.

Summary of results

Liberal Democrats: 25 councillors

Conservative Party: 10 councillors

Residents for Guildford and Villages: 7 councillors

Guildford Greenbelt Group: 3 councillors

Labour Party: 3 councillors

Turnout: 39%

You may recognise Matt Furniss’ name as he is also our Surrey County Councillor for Shalford Division.

After the election held on 4th May, we saw long standing Councillor Ian Brown voted in as Chairman due to Bill Nelson retiring from the PC.

Nicola Collett stood at the election and was elected as a new Councillor. At our first meeting of the new Council on 15th May she was voted in as Vice Chairman.

Councillor Mick Cover stood down at the end of this term and we’d like to thank him for his service and valuable knowledge of the village.

We also have a new clerk after Margaret Nelson retired and we would like to welcome Lesley Rixon into the role, however there will be a period of 2-3 months where Margaret will job share with Lesley to ensure a smooth hand over.

After the May AGM of the Parish Council we saw the retirement of our Chairman Bill Nelson after 28 years service and his wife Margaret who has served as Clerk for the last 22 years. Bill was elected Chairman at his first meeting and initially Margaret became clerk only temporarily to cover maternity leave.

Bill has given over so much of his time to the Parish Council, serving the community and has helped shape numerous initiatives benefiting the villages over the years, it is sad to see him go after such long service.

A presentation of an engraved glass award was made to Bill and a bouquet of flowers to Margaret, along with a garden centre voucher worth £385 , all from kind donations from residents. Many thanks to those who contributed to make these gifts possible.

Bill said, “After over 50 years combined service on the Parish Council, we want to thank everyone for their support over this time. We would also like to thank everyone for the very generous gift, which was such a surprise and very much appreciated.”

We wish both Bill and Margaret the very best in their retirement from the Parish Council.

From all the Parish Council.

Runfold Quarry Restoration

2 miles / 2pm

A short walk taking a public footpath route across restored areas of SUEZ's Runfold South Quarry

Meet at Quarry site entrance, opposite the Princess Royal pub, GU10 1NXNo booking required.