RAF aircraft 'howling' over parts of Gwynedd prompts call for transparency

August 25, 2023

The government has been urged to show transparency over a "howling" RAF aircraft flying over a constituency in Gwynedd.

The MP for Arfon, Hywel Williams, said "numerous noise complaints" had been made by local residents.

The Texan T1 aircraft was first introduced in 2019 to RAF Valley on Anglesey, the base where Prince William was posted.

Mr Williams, whose constituency lies fully under the North Wales Military Training Area, has written to the minister for defence procurement, James Cartlidge, to call for greater transparency.

He said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) should take steps to ensure the RAF Valley keeps a "record" of the number of flights over land, compared with those over sea.

The Plaid Cymru MP has previously raised the issue in the House of Commons and was told RAF Valley "distribute training flights to differing areas as equitably and fairly as possible".

In his letter to the minister, Mr Williams said recording details of flights over land versus sea was "the least RAF Valley could do".

"The absence of this requirement highlights a lack of consideration for my constituents and people across north west Wales," he added.

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Mr Williams said the RAF needed to "take meaningful steps to address the consequences on the individuals who call this place home" as well as visitors to Eryri - Snowdonia - national park and the surrounding area.

An RAF spokesperson said: "The RAF is constantly striving to ensure that disturbance is kept to an absolute minimum and that noise pollution is distributed as evenly as possible.

"However, we must continue to conduct essential flying training in order to maintain the supply of trained pilots to defend the UK and its interests."

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