Bim Afolami, MP for Hitchin & Harpenden, says Luton Airport expansion plans to 38 mppa ‘unsuitable’

Date added: 10 January, 2018

Conservative Bim Afolami, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, has said the proposed expansion of Luton Airport is both “unsuitable” and “unsustainable”, and its growth would be “Bedfordshire’s gain – Hertfordshire’s pain” in terms of noise and pollution. The airport, owned by Luton Borough Council, published its ambitious growth plan – to expand not only to 18 million annual passengers, but to 36 – 38 million  – in December. It hopes to reach the 38 million by 2050 with 240,000 flights a year, using its one existing runway. The local geography is such that adding a second runway would be virtually impossible – slopes. Mr Afolami told a Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday that he “was not against airports” and “recognised the jobs and economic growth the airport brings to the UK and to Luton” …. but “The proposed expansion to more than double Luton’s passenger numbers is both unsuitable to the local area and unsustainable in the context of the constraints that exist in rural Hertfordshire.  Luton is just not the right place for an airport of the proposed size of 38m passengers.” However, Transport Minister Paul Maynard said that the airport was already “actively engaged” in local consultation.

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Luton Airport expansion ‘unsuitable’, MPs told

9 January 2018 (BBC)

Hansard report of the debate here.

The proposed expansion of London Luton Airport is both “unsuitable” and “unsustainable”, an MP has claimed.

Bim Afolami, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, said growth would be “Bedfordshire’s gain – Hertfordshire’s pain” in terms of noise and pollution.

The airport, owned by Luton Borough Council, published its ambitious growth plan in December.

It wants to reach its 38m passenger target by 2050 with 240,000 flights a year using its one existing runway.

Conservative Mr Afolami told a Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday that he “was not against airports” and “recognised the jobs and economic growth the airport brings to the UK and to Luton.”

“The proposed expansion to more than double Luton’s passenger numbers is both unsuitable to the local area and unsustainable in the context of the constraints that exist in rural Hertfordshire,” he said.

“Luton is just not the right place for an airport of the proposed size of 38m passengers,” he added.

However, Transport Minister Paul Maynard said that the airport was already “actively engaged” in local consultation.

He told the debate: “We recognise that those who live closest to airports bear a particular burden of the costs.”

More than 30,000 jobs depend on the airport, councillor Andy Malcolm, chair of London Luton Airport Limited said.

‘Huge’ impact

Campaign group LADACAN claims aircraft noise has increased tenfold since 2013, and it “badly affects nearby towns and villages”.

Luton Borough Council chief executive, Trevor Holden, said expansion at the airport would bring significant economic benefits.

“The impact on our local economy and community is huge – not just in Luton, not just in Bedfordshire, Bucks and Hertfordshire,” he said.

“Across the board we’re making a real difference to the economy of the eastern region.”

Luton Airport expansion: council calls for community engagement after MPs debate

16th January 2018

London Luton Airport wants to increase its passenger capacity to 38 million a year

 

The owners of a busy airport have promised a “full and robust” consultation process after its growth plan was questioned by MPs.

Luton Borough Council made the announcement after it emerged that London Luton Airport hopes to increase its passenger numbers to 38 million per annum, which is more than double the current figures.

It comes as part of its latest ‘Vision for Sustainable Growth’ for the years 2020 to 2050, which has been scrutinised by politicians from the region.

Bim Afolami, who represents Harpenden and Hitchin, accused the council of putting its own needs above those of people who are negatively affected by the changes.

Holding a debate in Westminster Hall, he said: “Luton Borough Council has one real interest: growing passenger numbers and therefore revenue for its airport.

“That interest has been pursued without any real consideration for the significant negative impacts on the people of Hertfordshire.

“As one of my constituents put it to me, Bedfordshire gets the gain, and Hertfordshire gets the pain.”

His words were backed up by St Albans MP Anne Main, who believes that expansion must not go ahead “if strong protections against further noise pollution are not deliverable and guaranteed”.

But the council noted how, as per their report, the application would be determined by the Government as opposed to itself.

It added how it wished to work with neighbouring authorities and communities and would consider all feedback “very carefully”, using it to shape the proposal.

“We will make sure that we deliver a full and robust consultation process that ensures everyone gets the opportunity to have their say,” said Cllr Hazel Simmons, leader of Luton Council.

“At every stage in the process we will balance essential regional and national economic and employment growth with the needs of communities, and minimise and mitigate the impacts we know a major airport brings.”

http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/15840962.MPs_question_airport_s_growth_plans/

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See earlier:

Luton airport now hoping not only for 18 million annual passengers, but up to 38 million

January 9, 2018

Luton airport is planning to increase its annual number of passengers to 18 million, from around 15 million at present. Work is under way to achieve this, with new buildings, new taxiways etc. However, the airport is now saying it plans to take advantage of an apparent shortage of runway capacity in the south east, in the coming decade, to try to grow to 36 – 38 million annual passengers.  This has come as a surprise to many. Only two weeks earlier an airport senior manager was asked what happens when Luton reaches 18mppa, and he said they would flat-line as the terminal could not cope with any more people. The Chairman of LLACC (the Consultative Committee) did not about it either. Also, LLAL (the arm of Luton BC that owns the airport) recently purchased a huge tract of land nearby (Wigmore Park) and said it would not be used to expand the airport but to diversify business-land investment. However it appears that the airport may be planning a new terminal on the land, as the only way to achieve new growth aspirations.  Hertfordshire County Council are doubtful about the expansion, raising many possible negative impacts for the area, including surface access traffic.

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Posted: Wednesday, January 10th, 2018. Filed in General News, News about Airports, Recent News.