Airport agrees compensation deal over runway two (From Knutsford Guardian)

Manchester Airport agrees deal with Knutsford and Mobberley residents over runway two

9:38am Friday 15th June 2012 in News By James Wilson

RESIDENTS in Mobberley and Knutsford will share a £1million compensation pot after an agreement was reached with Manchester Airport over the disruption caused by runway two.

Almost 600 homeowners in the two areas will receive around £1,500 each from the agreement, while all of Knutsford and Mobberley residents will benefit from a town and parish council tax relief for one year.

Six schools will also receive £1,300 each.

This outcome follows pressure from Tatton MP George Osborne in a series of face-to-face meetings with MAG plc’s senior management, including CEO Charlie Cornish, over the past few years - and is a direct result of the round of 'Compensation Clinics' held under the MAEN amenity group banner early last year in Knutsford and Mobberley.

Jeff Gazzard, MAEN’s spokesman, said: "George Osborne’s personal involvement and unfailing support in securing this sum is an outstanding example of an MP responding to a key constituency issue - without his efforts, this package simply would not have been finalised."

A spokesman for the airport said: "“When runway two opened in 2001, we began working through the complex Lands Tribunal legal process to compensate homeowners in Knutsford and Mobberley where house values had been demonstrably affected by new aircraft noise patterns.

"This formal process concluded in 2010. Since then, George Osborne MP and Jeff Gazzard (MAEN) have presented us with a convincing case showing that there were some inequities and shortcomings in the legal process.

"For this reason, we have agreed a further goodwill package of benefits to those communities.

"We sincerely hope that this brings the matter to a fair and final conclusion for everyone involved."