An edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ that this week looks at the issues of low-flying aircraft. While many accept the need to train pilots for any potential military conflict, many in rural areas of Northumberland, County Durham and North Yorkshire are beginning to feel resentful that their area is being singled out when other areas are being except. Reporter Kevin Rowntree speaks with individuals and businesses from across the region who have been...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ that this week looks at the issues of low-flying aircraft. While many accept the need to train pilots for any potential military conflict, many in rural areas of Northumberland, County Durham and North Yorkshire are beginning to feel resentful that their area is being singled out when other areas are being except. Reporter Kevin Rowntree speaks with individuals and businesses from across the region who have been affected by low-flying aircraft and about their concerns with regards potential accidents. Back in the studio presenter Ian Breach speaks with Armed Forces Minister Jerry Wiggin MP about these concerns and that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are not taking them seriously enough. Title Tyne Tees Briefing A low-flying military fighter jet speeds across the Otterburn Ranges in Northumberland change to the Tyne Tees Television studio in Newcastle where presenter Ian Breach introducing this edition of ‘Briefing’ on the issues of low-flying that is causing a considerable disturbance to the countryside. A montage of various low flying aircraft is intercut with the voices of some of the people in the region who have been affected by them beginning with Alan Byde, an Outdoor Pursuits Instructor from Teesdale, Northumberland Farmworker Judy Glover and Janet Somerville, a teacher from Kirkwhelpington in Northumberland each talking about how the noise from low flying aircraft have frightened and shaken them as well as people they know. At her desk an interview with Gaye Johnson a Psychiatric Social Worker from Darlington about the signs of emotional stress in both children and the elderly triggered by the noise created by low flying aircraft. A low-flying aircraft flies near to the primary school at Haydon Bridge in Northumberland where children play in the playground. Reporter Kevin Rowntree speaks with the Reverend Alec Beniams, a Haydon Bridge District Councillor who has spoken with the MOD about his concerns about the potential of an aircraft accidently crashing onto or near to the two schools in the village. He is not happy with any reply so far given by the MOD. The interview is interrupted as a low-flying aircraft flies overhead. A little further down the Tyne Valley is the Stagshaw transmitter mast and an interview with Roy Heady a Lecturer from the village of Corbridge who is concerned that if a low-flying aircraft clips the mast and crashes the consequences on the village would be server. He is also concerned about the types of aircraft which fly over the areas and the potential lack of training for the pilots. Following more low-flying aircraft flying over a lake Kevin Rowntree speaks with Janet Somerville from her garden at Kirkwhelpington about close shaves she has had with these types of aircraft. She points out across the field in front of her house and explains that her husband had seen an aircraft fly past below the tops of the trees. She goes onto talk about the effects these low-flying aircraft have had on other people she knows. Another phantom aircraft ride across a rural landscape changes to Northumberland County Councillor for Kirkwhelpington Sean Foley on the telephone speaking with a constituent and their issues with low-flying aircraft. He speaks with Kevin Rowntree about the unhelpful responses from the MOD to his enquiries. While he does agree with the MOD that these training sorties are necessary, he believes some areas of rural Northumberland is getting to many low flying aircraft and need more advanced warning of such exercises. End of Part One Part Two The second part of this edition begins with another montage of low-flying military aircrafts travelling at speed across rural landscapes. In her office Gaye Johnson believes there must be other less-populated areas in other NATO countries or northern Scotland that could be better suited for these types of training sorties. She explains that low flying also happens around areas such as Darlington, Whitby as well as the Yorkshire Dales and Tynedale which presents widespread resentment from the general public. Ben Knight, a Lecturer from Weardale explains how he went about finding out to whom he should make complaints with regards low flying Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft. Having phoned his nearest operational base at Leeming he explains that his complaints are passed onto the MOD in London who reply within six or seven weeks to advise that no low-flying regulations have been broken and his complaint won’ t be taken further. He shows the camera a folder containing all of his MOD replies. A flock of sheep in a field and Kevin Rowntree speaking with David Dent, National Farmers Union (NFU) Secretary for the Durham and North Riding about compensation that is available to farmers for loss of life or damage to livestock due to low-flying exercises. Archive news footage of military vehicles and aircraft attending an RAF air crash near Barnard Castle a few years previously. Alan Byde talks about another incident that took place shortly after the crash in which an American aircraft flew at super-sonic speed over the town causing significant damage. Alan believes this maybe a deliberate incident against those people in places like Bishop Auckland who have made complaints about low-flying exercises. At a RAF bases several pilots talk about the need for such low-flying exercises, they don’t believe that those on the ground are able to accurately judge the high at which their aircraft is flying. At the Otterburn Ranges in Northumberland a bombing exercise with several aircraft flying low over the target area with two officers watching and speaking with the pilots over a radio. At nearby Swinburne Quarry red flags fly from masts indicating blasting taking place. Interview with Geoff Hebson Manager at Swinburne who talks about an incident that took place there a few years earlier in which several practice bombs used during bombing exercises had landed in the quarry. The sequence ends with a lorry leaving the quarry with a load of aggregate. Inside the Alcan Aluminium Smelter at Lynemouth various vehicles drive around the large space going about their work. Outside Kevin Rowntree speaks with Brian Sawyer, Managing Director at Alcan about the affect low-flying aircraft have on production at the works. He talks with regards the potential dangers of low-flying aircraft hitting the works large chimney stacks and of the effects of sonic booms on staff who are working with dangerous molten metals, inside the factory a ladle being used to stir a large vat of molten aluminium. With regards a response from the MOD about their concerns, so far nothing has been done. In the village of Lealholm in North Yorkshire Lecturer David Ward stands on a hill overlooking the valley below. He explains to Kevin Rowntree that from this position he can effectively monitor aircraft flying below a level that is in breach of the RAF’s own rules with regards flying below 250ft. He goes onto explain that while he has passed on his findings to the MOD they don’t believe him. He talks about witnessing a United States Air Force Phantom air crash which took place nearby in April 1979. He doesn’t believe the enquiry into the crash was trueful and that low flying was a contributing factor. Taking Kevin for a walk through the local countryside, the film changes to David being interviewed inside his home about the formation of a special action group made up of others like himself who are concerned about the dangers of low-flying aircraft and who responses to their concerns and fears as well as the effect of such exercises have on people who are affected by them from the MOD have been deemed ‘indifferent’. Kevin Rowntree speaks with Alan Beith MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed about the issue of low-flying. He believes the country needs to defend itself and understands the importance of low-flying training, but he is critical that to many areas of the country have become exempt from such exercises meaning areas around his constituency are putting up with too much of it. He wants to see everywhere getting a fair share including some urban areas. He holds up a large file containing the many complains he receives regarding low-flying which come mainly from rural areas, he is doesn’t believe the MOD is indifferent or unconcerned about complaints that have been made. The film ends back in Teesdale with Alan Byde who believes that the current training of low-flying aircraft is not being taken seriously because these aircraft are flying to slowly and in the wrong conditions for a potential Third World War. He wants the MOD to either carry out the training at the correct speeds of around Mach three or to stop doing them altogether. He goes on to state that should the MOD decided to do the training correctly then the valley would become uninhabitable, and the 11,000 people would need to be relocated and compensated. Returning to the Tyne Tees studio Ian Breach conducts an interview with Armed Forces Minister Jerry Wiggin MP about many of the points raised in the film. He believes while low-flying can be unpleasant and frightening, it is necessary for the nations defence. The programme ends with Ian Breach providing details of next weeks edition which looks at the upcoming budget and what it may contain to help the north-east as well as speaking with residents of two new housing estates on Tyneside about the potential of buying their own home as well as the relevance of housing co-operatives. Credit: Reporter Kevin Rowntree Film Camera Fred Crone, Graham Brown Film Sound Ed Gray, Nic Gray Film Editors Krysla Carter-Giez, John Louvre Directors David Thomasson, Ronnie Mutch Associate Producer Alex Murchie Political Editor John Sleight Producer John Farnworth End title: Tyne Tees. © Tyne Tees Television Ltd. MCMLXXXIII