A PLAN to erect landing lights on a Common near Bristol Airport has received universal condemnation, reports a local campaign group.

The Save Felton Common group say that 640 submissions to Bristol Airport’s six-week private consultation on the plans to install 8.5 metre high lights were all negative.

The installation of the 21 runway approach lights is part of latest plans for the expansion of the airport to cater for up to 15-million passengers per year by extending the runway 150 metres towards the A38.

The extension would allow the airport to operate flights to destinations such as Dubai and the United States.

Save Felton Common was set up following a packed meeting in December at Felton Village Hall where more than 100 concerned local residents gathered to show their strength of feeling against Bristol Airport's wishes to expand their operations onto the Common.

The details of the move onto the Common came as a shock to the local community, they say, as it was not mentioned in the airport's June 2025 published 2040 Master Plan.

Chair of Save Felton Common, Debbie Johnson, has served on the Felton Common Working Group for more than 20 years which manages the Common on behalf of Winford Parish Council.

She said: “The anger over the airport's proposals to locate landing lights on Felton Common was so evident at the recent meeting held in Felton. The Common is a cherished and well-used part of the local community and beyond.

“The airport says that they only need a small proportion of land to site the new lights, but the development will literally slice the Common into two parts.

“They have no care about the detrimental impact of the lights on the local community and users, as well as the unique nature that lives on and around the Common.

“We have set ourselves up as a coordinating group to represent the many views of the local community, with an aim to lobby decision-makers to make them fully informed of the concerns over the airport’s plan to put corporate profit ahead of people and the environment.

“For many residents and users, the proposal to place 8.5 metre tall, glaring lights on Felton Common crosses a red line and this was so clearly evident from the recent consultation, which showed that almost 100 percent of the submissions were against the development.

“They are prepared to challenge the airport to ensure a secure future for this unique ancient space.”

The Bristol Airport consultation document stated: “We are consulting on proposals to relocate the runway approach lighting 240 metres further east at the eastern end of the runway. This is to ensure Bristol Airport continues to comply with Civil Aviation Authority safety standards when the proposed runway improvements are in place.

“The runway approach lighting array would continue to extend 570 metres from the relocated landing threshold. No changes are proposed to the runway approach lighting at the western end of the runway, as we do not propose to move the western landing threshold.”

Simon Martin from Save Felton Common attended the Airport Consultative Committee meeting held at the airport on January 15. He reported that under questioning, BA Head of Planning and Growth, Andrew Goodchild, admitted there were some flaws in the consultation, and they had underestimated the demand for the drop-in event.

Mr Goodchild was also reported to have later admitted, on answering a question by a parish councillor, that BA had received 640 responses which were almost ‘universally negative’ and they had underestimated the strength of local opposition. Simon added: "We are unlikely to learn more about the responses as this was a private BA consultation.”

In a statement in November, Winford Parish Council said: “Together with District Councillor Annemieke Waite, we are extremely disappointed that Bristol Airport are seeking to erect landing lights on Felton Common.

“The proposal, along with an extension of the runway towards Felton Common, represents a total lack of understanding by the airport as to the significance of Felton Common for our local community.”

A Bristol Airport spokesperson said: "While only small areas of the Common would be required for the lighting, we realise how important the open space is to local people, which is why we consulted with those with rights on the Common, users of the Common and local residents last year.

“The proposed runway approach lighting is necessary as part of our future growth plans that include improvements to our runway, enabling new routes to America and the Middle East, key destinations that people in the region are keen to visit using their local airport.

“These are also important areas for worldwide business opportunities, which local companies and tourism organisations have said they would benefit from connecting to.

“A full environmental assessment will be included in our forthcoming planning application to grow the airport.”