A campaign by Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has been revived following the return of “noisy” helicopter rides over the city.
The rides offer passengers the chance to see Bath’s historic landmarks from above
The “Stop the Choppers” campaign was launched last year in a bid to stop helicopter trips disrupting residents.
The helicopters had previously been taking off from Bath Racecourse but after Mrs Hobhouse raised concerns, the racecourse confirmed that no sightseeing trips would take place in 2022, but racecourse guests could fly there if they chose to.
With the return of helicopter rides in recent weeks, Wera has written to Virgin Experience Days who are advertising the tours, and has written to the private business where the helicopters are taking off.
The identity of the business will not be disclosed until they have offered a response.
Local authorities do not have the legal power to take action on matters of aircraft noise, nor does the Civil Aviation Authority have any legal power to prevent aircraft flying over a particular location or at a particular time for environmental reasons.
The Civil Aviation Authority’s website states that “Aircraft noise is not currently a statutory nuisance in the UK as it is not covered by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 or the Noise Act 1996.”
The MP has said that she will be taking up the issue.
In a statement, Mrs Hobhouse commented: “These helicopter joy rides are disrupting residents and are damaging to our environment. Bath is a beautiful city.
“It does not fit in with our World Heritage status to have noisy, sight-seeing helicopters polluting the air above our city, especially at a time where we are tackling a climate crisis.
“I’ve written to Virgin Experience Days who are organising the tours and the private business whose property is being used by the helicopters to raise residents’ concerns.
“Just to confirm, these joy rides are not taking off from the racecourse. When this issue came up last year, the racecourse agreed to stop providing a site for the helicopters to take off from.
“Our unique heritage city can be easily appreciated on foot rather than from a helicopter. I will be taking this issue forward in the hope that we can stop the choppers disrupting Bath residents.”
