Terry Hoey chairman of the Palmerston Residents Association believes his article in the Belfast Telegraph and radio interview has cleared up some issues he had with the Belfast city airport watch spokeswoman. He feels her reply to say that Palmerston Road was not on the flight path for the airport was true, but he also feels that she clearly does not know the area as to where she thinks Larkfield Road and Connsbrook Ave are.

Airport Watch had carried out an audit of some 412 people from as far away as Rosetta and Stranmillis, which Terry feels are not on the flight path either, but she felt that it was worth while to audit them, Terry finds it strange that if airport watch has the ground swell of opinion in the Sydenham area that is where she should have carried out the audit. It was also strange Airport Watch did not state which schools were effected, as only one school remains in the Sydenham area Victoria Park Primary School.

Palmerston Residents Association has seen other audits that have taken place in the Sydenham area for youth facilities, we would be very interested to see any audits Airport Watch have carried out and what was included in them,  was our disabled community ask to take part, were any of the minority communities included. The association feels that if audits are carried out they should be made available to the public, as this is such an important issue where our local economy may be effected and in turn peoples jobs.

Terry looks to the Sydenham Business Park where multinational companies like Phoenix gas, NTL World,IKEA,B&Q and Sainsbury to mention a few. A host of other companies have now opened up close to the Belfast city airport, it has become an economical hub for East Belfast where people want to set up business beside the airport facility,the association has seen a lot of outside interference within the Sydenham area that is effecting the whole of the Sydenham Community and it is a strong believer in asking the community what it thinks.

Terry would like to thank everybody for the support he has been given for his article that appeared in the Belfast Telegraph and the Community Telegraph.