MP Speaks Out for Residents as Helicopter Joy Rides Continue Over City

3 September 2021

MP Wera Hobhouse has vowed to take action to stop disruptive helicopter rides flying over Bath.

The helicopters have been taking off from Bath Racecourse and were particularly frequent over the bank holiday weekend. The rides seem to be flying lower than normal and residents have raised concerns to MP Wera Hobhouse, their ward councillors and to the Civil Aviation Authority. There are also concerns over the pollution caused just as Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Clean Air Zone has been shown to have reduced air pollution levels in a number of areas across the city.

The company offering the rides advertise an extended tour of Bath for £169.00 for 25 minute flights which flies across to Bristol. The shorter tour boasts that guests can view the Royal crescent, the Circus, Pulteney Bridge, the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey and the Thermae Spa. Residents have been left furious as they’ve experienced the disruption caused by the low flying machines.

Commenting on the issue, Wera Hobhouse has vowed to stand up for Bath residents:

“Not only is this disruptive to residents in Bath but it is hugely damaging to the environment. I will stand up for residents to demand that these joy rides stop polluting our city and repeatedly disrupting our residents. Bath is a beautiful city and can easily be discovered on foot. It does not fit with the city’s World Heritage status to have noisy, sight-seeing helicopters polluting the air above our city, especially whilst we are tackling a climate crisis.

“I will be speaking to the racecourse manager on his return from holiday, to get to the bottom of the issue. It is simply not acceptable.”