Lydd airport expansion decision to be challenged at the High Court by RSPB and LAAG
Plans for expansion at Lydd airport were initially proposed in 2010, and were given the go-ahead by the government in April after a public inquiry. Now campaigners opposed to development at Lydd have lodged an appeal against the government decision. The airport wants a runway extension of almost 300m and a new terminal, and development to allow up to 500,000 passengers per year, up from hardly any now. The RSPB and Lydd Airport Action Group (LAAG) have lodged separate appeals. The RSPB says that the area where the airport is situated, Dungeness, is one of the most important wildlife sites in the world – it is protected at global, European and UK levels. “The stakes are too high to risk the future of one of our best and most important places for nature without testing the basis for this decision which we consider to be flawed.” The airport would damage the wildlife and landscape. LAAG argues the expansion plan is unsafe due to the airport being in such close proximity to Dungeness nuclear power station.
.
Tweet
28 May 2013 (BBC)
Lydd Airport: RSPB appeals over expansion
Campaigners opposed to development at Lydd Airport in Kent have lodged an appeal against a government decision to allow the airport to expand.
The £25m project, also known as London Ashford Airport, includes a runway extension of almost 300m (328yds) and a new terminal.
The RSPB and Lydd Airport Action Group have lodged separate appeals.
The airport’s bosses said government permission for expansion was a “victory” for common sense.
The plans, which were initially proposed in 2010, were given the go-ahead by the government in April after a public inquiry.
Lydd Airport said development would see an increase of 500,000 passengers a year.
Chris Corrigan, the RSPB’s South East regional director, said: “Dungeness is one of the most important wildlife sites in the world – it is protected at global, European and UK levels.
“Over recent years, our concerns about the impact of expanding nearby Lydd Airport led to the need to argue our case at a public inquiry.
“The stakes are too high to risk the future of one of our best and most important places for nature without testing the basis for this decision which we consider to be flawed.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-22686761
.
Related BBC Stories
.
.
Airport expansion on ‘vital’ nature reserve to be challenged in court
RSPB and locals will fight to protect marsh used by migratory birds at Dungeness
Controversial plans for a major extension to an airport which sits next to one of Britain’s most important nature reserves – as well as a nuclear power station – are to be challenged in court, it was announced today.
The RSPB will appeal the outcome of a public inquiry, as well as the government’s decision to give permission for the plans to go ahead, in the High Court. And a local campaign group has said it has also launched a High Court challenge in a bid to have the decision quashed and force the government back to the drawing board.
The planned expansion would see the tiny Lydd airport, which welcomed fewer than 500 passengers in 2011, capable of serving more than 500,000-a-year; thereby placing it in Britain’s top 30 airports for annual passenger numbers.
But its opponents, some of whom have been fighting for more than 10 years, say that it is under one of the largest migratory bird routes in the South of England and expressed fears its growth could lead to more bird strikes.
The Lydd Airport Action Group is basing its fight on planning grounds because of the proximity to Dungeness Power Station and is bringing action under Section 288 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The RSPB, on the other hand, is exercising its right to appeal the government’s decision, which was taken last month following a public inquiry and inspector’s report. The two actions are being taken separately.
Chris Corrigan, the RSPB’s south east regional director, said: “Dungeness is one of the most important wildlife sites in the world.
”It is protected at global, European and UK levels. It is home to species found hardly anywhere else in the UK. It is also a crossroads for migrating birds stopping off on their epic global journeys. The stakes are too high to risk the future of one of our best and most important places for nature without testing the basis for this decision which we consider to be flawed.“
A spokesman added that the RSPB was worried about what it called ”perversions“ in the public inquiry. He added: ”Dungeness is of huge importance globally. It would be remiss of us not to ensure that this decision is tested fully where we believe the inspector has not done so.
Louise Barton of the Lydd Airport Action Group said: “This [expansion] is not needed, all sorts of things about it are strange.” She added that the group and its lawyer Matthew Horton QC would be looking for “inconsistencies in the decision-making process”, on which to base their challenge.
The airport, which is also known as London Ashford Airport, is on the Romney Marsh in Kent. The plans, costing £25m, include a 294-metre runway extension, a 150-metre starter extension, plus a new terminal building. Its owners say they have already spent £35m over the past 10 years modernising the airport, which has operated on the Dungeness Peninusula since 1954.
Greeting last month’s approval, the airport’s executive manager Hani Mutlaq said it was a “victory for common sense and for the people of Romney Marsh”.
The plans will create jobs, boost tourism and revive a long-standing economic blackspot as well as provide sorely-needed additional airport capacity in the south east, he said.
A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: “The planning decision from April took into account all the relevant issues and representations.
”That decision has been supported by the local district council, the county council and the local MP. We will respond in due course to the legal submission.“
.
.Lydd airport expansion decision to be challenged at the High Court
An action group has lodged an appeal at the High Court against the government’s decision to allow Lydd Airport to expand.
Airport bosses want to extend the runway and build a new terminal for around half a million passengers each year.
But the Lydd Airport Action Group, is hoping to quash the decision announced last month.
The airport, on Romney Marsh, wants a 960ft runway expansion for passenger jets and a new terminal building for 500,000 passengers a year.
Its controversial bid for planning permission was first submitted more than six years ago and faced strong opposition by some residents, environmentalists and the RSPB.
A public inquiry ended in September 2011 and it was announced in April ministers have agreed with a planning inspector’s recommendation to grant approval for the £25million development.
It was hoped construction work on the runway would begin soon after.
Damian Collins, who represents Folkestone and Hythe, hailed the approval – which will bring a jobs boost to the area – as “excellent” when it was announced.
He added: “The expansion allows the runway to be lengthened so flights can be operated over a longer distance.
“At the moment planes are only allowed to fly as far as the south of France, but this will allow flights further into Europe, into Spain and open up a lot more routes.”
But the Campaign to Protect Rural England said the decision will “irreversibly damage the wildlife habitat and beautiful landscape unique to the area”.
In a separate move, the bird charity RSPB has issued a legal challenge to the decision.
A statement issued, said nearby Dungeness was one of the most important wildlife sites in the world – protected at global, European and UK levels.
It said the area was home to species found hardly anywhere else in the UK. It was also a crossroads for migrating birds stopping off on their epic global journeys.
Speaking as the challenge was submitted, Chris Corrigan, RSPB South East regional director, said: “After careful consideration we have now issued a legal challenge to the Secretary of State’s decision.
“The stakes are too high to risk the future of one of our best and most important places for nature without testing the basis for this decision which we consider to be flawed.”
.