Severe safety issues at Los Angeles International Airport cannot be rectified due to opposition from local residents.

The airport has four runways all running parallel to each other, just off the Pacific coast, but according to federal aviation regulators, the two to the north of the site are too close together.

Los Angeles has the worst record for near collision incidents on the ground; however nearby residents feel any changes would increase air pollution, noise levels and be detrimental to local businesses.

Jane Garvey, former head of the Federal Aviation Administration stated “Airport directors have to balance the very real issues around safety with community concerns.”

Despite several meetings between airport officials and the public, residents do not accept that the airport design needs changing, whilst officials try to emphasise the real safety issues involved.

Between 2000 and 2007, Los Angeles had 16 near collision incidents, and 5 separate studies concluded that the northern runways were a serious safety hazard.

However there are long standing issues between residents and the airport over previous alterations that have seen homes bulldozed and local businesses closed, for very little or no compensation, so residents need convincing that these changes are happening for safety reasons and not just an excuse to expand the airport.

A new study will be carried out this year by NASA on the northern runways, and local councilman, Bill Rosendahl, who originally opposed the alterations, has claimed he will listen to the results and consider changes, but questions whether the alterations are actually a critical part of safety, confirming that if the answer is “yes”, then he is prepared to comply.