Boris says a 2nd Stansted runway, and high speed rail to the airport,as an “interim solution” would be, in his words, a “fantastic step in the right direction” to solving the South-East’s (alleged) air capacity crisis before building a new hub in the Thames Estuary. Boris is complaining that David Cameron, in response to the barrage of lobbying for a new runway at Heathrow, has not ruled it out after the next election in 2015 – and Boris says this is detracting from his plans for the mega airport in the Thames estuary. BAA said building runway 2 at Stansted “will not solve the UK’s hub airport capacity crisis” and would just “increase the amount of spare capacity there.” Boris’s comments will be seen as an acceptance that the Government will not immediately opt for his estuary airport plan. Oh, and he wants to be Prime Minister too – so he can get the estuary airport plan through….
Boris Johnson has given his support to plans to build a second runway at Stansted Airport, the Standard can reveal.
Stansted Airport: Needs second runway, says Boris Johnson
The Mayor said another runway at the airport would be a “fantastic step in the right direction” to solving the South-East’s air capacity crisis before building a new hub in the Thames Estuary.
And he launched a blistering attack on the Government after David Cameron refused to rule out reconsidering expanding Heathrow following the next election in 2015.
Mr Johnson accused the Prime Minister of using “divide and rule” tactics and said his comments about a third runway at Heathrow were “a ruse designed to dissipate the energy of a campaign for a new airport”.
Quoting Winston Churchill the Mayor added: “The Government is basically resolved to be irresolute, adamant
for drift.” He said he still firmly believes that the South-East needs a new airport in the long term.
Mr Johnson is the most senior figure to call for a new runway at Stansted. The Crossrail project would be extended to serve the airport.
“It would be a good interim solution,” he said. “A lot of money is now moving on to Stansted and the possibility of a high-speed rail link up there. You could be just as fast, if not faster, than at Heathrow.”
His comments will be seen as an acceptance that the Government will not immediately opt for his favoured solution of a four-runway mega-hub — dubbed Boris Island — to be built in the Thames Estuary.
“If we built another runway at Stansted and put in a high-speed line that would be a fantastic step in the right direction,” he added. “And then [we can] look at another hub. All options must be looked at.”
In an interview with New York Magazine published today Mr Johnson again hinted that he may make a bid to lead the Tory Party in the future.
He said: “We have to have a new airport. One of the only reasons I want to assume supreme power in England is to make sure that happens. For God’s sake, don’t quote me saying that.”
In his most outspoken attack yet on the Coalition, Mr Johnson told the Standard he believed Mr Cameron was simply trying to “muddy the waters” by hinting at a possible Heathrow U-turn. He said: “The whole decision to re-open [discussion about] Heathrow is designed to cause confusion — to muddy the waters and allow the process to become delayed for as long as possible. It’s a procrastination device.
“The Government strategy at the moment is divide and rule. It’s a ruse designed to dissipate the energy of a campaign for a new airport.”
Mr Cameron last week repeated the position in the Coalition agreement of no Heathrow expansion until 2015. But he said MPs should not be “blind” to the need to expand airport capacity. A growing number of backbench Conservative MPs believe a bigger Heathrow is needed to boost Britain’s links to China and other emerging markets.
Carol Barbone, campaign director of Stop Stansted Expansion, said: “Stansted is only operating at half its permitted capacity as it is. If the market was interested in using Stansted we would be seeing increasing passenger numbers rather than a month-on-month decline for the past five years. Boris is clutching at straws given the opposition to the Thames Estuary airport.”
A spokesman for airport operator BAA said: “Building a new runway at Stansted will not solve the UK’s hub airport capacity crisis. All a second runway at Stansted would achieve would be to increase the amount of spare capacity there.”
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/mayor/boris-johnson-has-given-his-support-to-plans-to-build-a-second-runway-at-stansted-airport-the-standard-can-reveal-7858230.html
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Comment from Stop Stansted Expansion:
As the frenzy in the aviation industry and parts of the media hots up, in anticipation of the government’s aviation consultation in July, there have been reports in the Evening Standard, Telegraph, Financial Times and Mail about Boris Johnson calling for a second runway to be built at Stansted as a stop gap solution until his ‘Boris Island’ airport can be built. These have led to some unusual agreement between Stop Stansted Expansion and BAA, with the latter remarking “All a 2nd runway at Stansted would achieve would be to increase the amount of spare capacity there.’
Not content with advocating one environmental disaster, Boris is now advocating two. And what Boris sees as a short-term fix for the aviation industry would be a permanent disaster environmentally. Stansted’s existing runway, which has been around for 70 years, is only operating at half its permitted capacity. If the market was interested in expanding at Stansted we would be seeing increasing passenger numbers rather than the month-on-month declines we have seen for the past five years. Boris is clutching at straws given the opposition to the Thames Estuary airport.
Posted: Monday, June 18th, 2012. Filed in General News, News about Airports, Recent News.
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The “Grow Heathrow” community, who have turned an area in Sipson that was once a “derelict mess”, into a thriving market garden, are facing eviction. However, the young people living there are popular with the local community, who want them to stay. When they arrived several years ago, they cleared as much as 30 tonnes of rubbish off the site, renovated greenhouses and now grow organic lettuces, courgettes,squashes etc. The site happens to be where a 3rd runway was to be built – a location in many of their neighbours’ interests to protect. The owner of the land wants his land back, and a hearing at Central London County Court began on Monday but the judge has decided to take more time, so they are not due back in court for several weeks. The court is expected to weigh up the human rights and hard work of those who have moved in against the simple fact the land is not theirs.
18 June 2012(BBC)
[There is more about Grow Heathrow on their website at http://www.transitionheathrow.com/grow-heathrow/ ]
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18.6.2012 (From Transition Heathrow)
Court is now over and the most important thing everyone needs to know is that we have not yet been handed a judgement. The judge is going to take some more time to really read into the issues and both parties are expecting to receive a written judgement at some point in the next few weeks.
Overall we’re feeling positive that all the arguments have been heard and all we can do now is cross our fingers. We will share the news and probably call a press conference as soon as we find out the result. Keep checking the blog and following us on twitter for updates.
A collection of photos from outside Central London County Court can be found on our FLICKR site here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47991844@N06/sets/72157630181312522/
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From Twitter:
Baroness Miller (House of Lords) statement added to our statements of support page on the websitehttp://www.transitionheathrow.com/statements/ #defendgrowhrow
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The waiting game begins. Judgement letter expected in the post in next few weeks. It’s like waiting for exam results but with more at stake
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Court is all over. Judge taking some more time and will be waiting a week or 2 before sending written judgement. #defendgrowhrow
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Grow Heathrow: Green-fingered squatters’ eviction fight
By Andy Dangerfield 
Lettuces and squashes are grown in renovated greenhouses
Squatters are rarely the most popular residents in a neighbourhood.
But on Vineries Close in Sipson, west London, resides a group of squatters many of the local people are keen to see stay.
Residents say they like the occupants because they have turned what was once a “derelict mess”, into a thriving market garden.
The squatters have renovated greenhouses and grow lettuces, courgettes and squashes that would raise the eyebrow of many an organic greengrocer.
They also happen to be on a site that sits directly in the path of where Heathrow Airport’s third runway was to be built – a location in many of their neighbours’ interests to protect.
But the squatters – who call themselves Grow Heathrow – face possible eviction as the owner of the land wants to remove them from the site.
Imran Malik solicitor’s Stephen Phillips said: “Mr Malik is the legal owner of the land and, as such, is entitled to possession of it.”
A hearing at Central London County Court begins on Monday.
It is expected to weigh up the human rights and hard work of those who have moved in against the simple fact the land is not theirs.
‘Scrapped cars’
Grow Heathrow claims the land had “previously been problematic for the local community and was often a site of anti-social behaviour before it was virtually abandoned”.
It says it cleared “30 tonnes of rubbish” when squatters moved onto the land.
Grow Heathrow says it cleared “30 tonnes of rubbish” when it moved onto the site
“There were needles, there was broken glass, there were scrapped cars, and we found a whole tank of diesel,” said Olive Morris from Grow Heathrow.
But the landowner’s solicitor responded: “Mr Malik was not himself responsible for the state of the site prior to its occupation by Grow Heathrow.”
“It was caused by a tenant of his.”
But even if the land has been tidied up, is this not a bit like getting into someone else’s house, redecorating it, and then saying because you have done that you are entitled to it?
“We were asked by the community residents to come here and to make it something they could be proud of,” responded Ms Morris.
Grow Heathrow also claims to share practical skills such as permaculture design, bicycle maintenance and wood and metal work with the community.
Joe Rake, also from Grow Heathrow, said: “We want to continue the work we do with schools, youth clubs and the residents’ association.”
A Harmondsworth and Sipson Residents’ Association (HASRA) spokesperson said: “Their tireless efforts and support have regenerated enthusiasm for community working that inspires the many people who visit.”
‘Attempted negotiation’
Meanwhile, local Labour MP John McDonnell said: “Grow Heathrow have taken a derelict site that has caused local residents numerous problems and transformed it into a beautiful area, serving the whole community.”
But Mr Malik’s solicitor responded: “Whilst no doubt Grow Heathrow have put in a lot of work in clearing up and improving the site, at the end of the day this gives them no legal right to continue trespassing on the land.
Grow Heathrow has occupied the land for more than two years
“As for the future, Mr Malik has his own plans to utilise the site in ways that he considers will be of benefit to the local community.”
The squatters said “during months of attempted negotiations” they have tried to purchase the land as part of a community land trust.
But Mr Phillips said: “Although there have been offers to buy the site from Mr Malik, they have been for sums that are too low to even consider.”
To remain on the land, the squatters have a tough battle on their hands, but if they win the case could set a precedent for land use elsewhere.
A previous court case for possession of the land at Uxbridge County Court in November 2011 was adjourned because the judge accepted some of the defendants’ arguments which were based upon Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights – the right to respect for private and family life – meaning a higher authority was needed to rule on the case.
Mr Phillips said: “As regards the Human Rights Act issues that have been raised in the defence, and that Article 8 applies to the claim, if the Court were to uphold this it would fundamentally transform the law on possession actions, even against private tenants.”
The coalition government has ruled out building a third runway at Heathrow. An aviation consultation will publish its findings this summer.
The hearing over Vineries Close is expected to last for two days.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18460865
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Earlier:
Transition Heathrow. We’re not going anywhere !
17.11.2011 (Transition Heathrow)
Transition Heathrow’s “Grow Heathrow” project were due to be in court on 17th November, for a hearing about having them evicted from the site they are occupying at Sipson. The judge took into account the human rights arguments and adjourned the case to the higher authority of Central London County Court where a two day hearing will take place in a few months time. The owner of the site wants the land back, though it had been neglected for years, and Grow Heathrow has turned it into a thriving community venture.http://www.airportwatch.org.uk/?p=5978
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and
New video from Transition Heathrow to mark the group’s first birthday
1.3.2011 http://www.airportwatch.org.uk/?p=1037
Posted: Monday, June 18th, 2012. Filed in News about Airports, Publicity & Politics, Recent News.
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Munich residents voted against development of a 3rd runway, in a poll by the City of Munich, which owns 23% of the runway (state and federal government own the rest). Though the city only owns part of the airport, this is thought to be a veto. Munich Mayor Christian Ude said he would accept the result “without ifs or buts.” Bavaria’s state government, however, said it still hopes the runway could eventually be built.Munich is Germany’s second-biggest airport. The vote has dealt another blow to airlines clamouring for growth in Germany. Just over 54% of polled voters were against the new runway and 45.7% in favour, according to preliminary results of the vote on Sunday. A German district government ruled in favour of the €1.2 billion Munich runway project almost a year ago. This vote shows, quote: “how difficult it has become to make clear the significance of important infrastructure projects in our country,’ according to the Munich airport chief.
This is an astonishing victory for the campaigners. Most of Munich is not under the flight paths. The people outside the city who are under the flight paths were not allowed to vote. And they took on the entire political establishment (except the Green Party) which poured millions into the referendum. It is a result for high-profile, high-class campaigning.
It does not mean that the runway is 100% off the agenda but the Mayor of Munich has accepted that it will be very difficult to go ahead with it now.
Photos Delight by those opposing the runway plans on hearing of the vote against it
MUNICH, (Reuters) – Munich residents voted against development of a third runway at Germany’s second-biggest airport, dealing to another blow to airlines clamouring for growth in Europe’s biggest economy.
Just over 54 percent of polled voters were against the new runway and 45.7 percent in favour, according to preliminary results of the vote on Sunday.
Airlines such as Deutsche Lufthansa and Air Berlin have already been hit by a ban on night flights at Germany’s biggest airport in Frankfurt and delays to the opening of a new airport in Berlin.
‘The fact that a relative majority of Munich residents voted against the construction of a third takeoff and landing strip shows how difficult it has become to make clear the significance of important infrastructure projects in our country,’ Munich airport chief Michael Kerkloh said in a statement.
Airport expansion is a major issue around the world as the interests of airlines and airport operators trying to meet growing demand for air travel are pitted against those of people who live near airports and see their property values diminished by planes roaring overhead.
No Third runway. (Keine 3 Startbahn)
Business leaders in Britain earlier this year urged the government there to rethink its opposition to the developed of a third runway at Heathrow airport, which is operating at almost full capacity.
Hong Kong has approved construction of a HK$136 billion ($17.5 billion) third runway at the city’s international airport, though there are lingering concerns over environmental costs.
A German district government ruled in favour of the 1.2 billion euro ($1.5 billion) project in Munich almost a year ago.
But the city of Munich, which owns 23% of the airport, polled residents on whether it should use its veto power to block the airport expansion, which the airport’s operator has said would create about 11,000 new jobs.
Munich airport has said the new runway is necessary to meet growing demand for air travel. Lufthansa said the outcome of the vote was ‘regrettable’ and reiterated its warning that it could shift investments elsewhere if it cannot add capacity in Munich, one of its two German hubs.
Munich airport handled almost 38 million passenger last year and expects that figure to rise to more then 50 million in 2015, thanks to a 650-million-euro expansion of its Terminal 2, some 40 percent of which is being financed by Lufthansa.
($1 = 0.7921 euros)
($1 = 7.7584 Hong Kong dollars)
(Reporting by Irene Preisinger; Additional reporting by Maria Sheahan; Writing by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
http://www.xe.com/news/2012/06/17/2741621.htm?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=TL&utm_content=NOGEO&utm_campaign=News_RSS_Art1
BERLIN (AP) – Voters in Munich have rejected plans to build a third runway at the city’s airport, the second-busiest in Germany after Frankfurt.
Authorities in the Bavarian capital said 55.4 % of voters in a referendum Sunday backed a motion calling on the city, one of three owners of the airport operator, to oppose a new runway.
The company’s rules call for unanimity on important decisions, and Munich Mayor Christian Ude said he would accept the result “without ifs or buts.” Bavaria’s state government, however, said it still hopes the runway could eventually be built.
Supporters, including the center-right state government and the center-left Ude, said it is important for the region’s economic development. But the Green party and other opponents dispute the need for it.
http://www.nbc12.com/story/18809126/munich-voters-reject-extra-airport-runway
More news and information about the Munich airport struggles at Munich Airport
and recent Blog by John Stewart on the situation in Germany, with it numerous airport battles, at Read the Blog
Munich occupation
At the weekend there was a two day occupation in the centre of Munich, before the referendum for the people of Munich to give their views on a 3rd runway. Local people, together with FOE Bavaria and Plane Stupid Germany, occupied a key site in Munich for two days from Friday until Saturday where they are putting on a programme of free bands! Presumably they had some understanding with the police.
Earlier:
Showdown in airport dispute
This Sunday at the Munich agree to build the third runway.Proponents and opponents are fighting to the last. Transport Minister Zeil advertises the project – Green Party leader, Janecek, wants to stop it .
12.6.2012
[Apologies for the bad translation from the German].
On Sunday, the Munich citizens are called upon to vote on the construction of a third runway at the Munich airport. Photo: AP
MUNICH. Before Munich referendum on the third airport runway this Sunday proponents and opponents are fighting with all his might and to the last second by the majority. While Transport Minister Martin Zeil, Bavaria’s (FDP) once campaigned vigorously for the controversial project, Green-land, Dieter Janecek said for the third runway completely unnecessary.
Approximately 1.032 million are eligible to vote on Sunday to Munich
Vote is called. Crucial to a victory by proponents or opponents of the majority of the valid votes – and this majority must be at least ten percent of the voters. If enough voters participate and vote against the construction of the project is stopped. Otherwise, the process continues. Then at the end, the courts have the word.
Zeil sees capacity utilized
Zeil pointed out that the number of flights since the airport opened 20 years ago had more than doubled. “The Munich Airport is an extraordinary success story.It has been 20 years ago never thought in the wildest dreams did that it would develop so well, “he said. But now the capacity is exhausted the existing two runways – and will expect a further sharp rise in the number of aircraft movements. The third runway is therefore absolutely essential – especially if the airport wants to keep his position as an international hub and expand. In addition, good flight connections played all over the world in attracting foreign companies in the region a central role.
Janecek, however vehemently campaigned for a halt to the project. “We simply see no need for a third runway,” he said. The forecasts, which predicted the coming years, a strong growth are completely untrustworthy. “I think this is Luftikus forecasts,” stressed the head of the Greens. Given the ever-rising oil prices, he no longer believe in massive growth in air travel. “At the projected growth unchecked, it will not come – and I think the idea of unbridled growth for yesterday,” said Janecek.
“We look at the evolution of the number of aircraft movements during the past few years and see where stagnation,” said Janecek.“On the other hand, we see the stresses that brings the airport for the region today with it. And we see the issues of climate and environmental protection. And if you take it all together, then we say that the two runways and sufficient that we can better manage well in the future, “he said.
Zeil also argued that the airport and the construction of the third runway has a positive impact on economic growth in the region. “A relationship between infrastructure and growth no one can deny seriously.” Also will make the third runway for a total of 11,000 new jobs.
ButKamacel does not accept the argument – by proponents of the runway – that the airport is a job creator. ” We already have full employment In the region even before the opening of the airport,” he said.
Specifically, the citizens of Munich on Sunday to decide whether the City should vote as a shareholder of the airport in the shareholders’ meeting for or against the construction of the third runway. And even if Munich with 23% of the smallest shareholder behind the Free State (51 percent) and federal (26 percent), the city is practically a veto. The directly affected citizens in the counties and Freising and Erding, however, can not co-decide about the third runway. (AP)
http://www.mittelbayerische.de/nachrichten/oberpfalz-bayern/artikel/showdown-im-flughafen-streit/797622/showdown-im-flughafen-streit.html
Posted: Sunday, June 17th, 2012. Filed in News about Airports, Recent News.
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The Chief Executive of George Best Belfast City Airport has dismissed the remarks made by BALPA link , that Belfast should have only one airport, at a Commons Select Committee hearing as laughable. He said the airport is a profitable privately run company, and cannot be closed down against their wishes. BALPA had said that Belfast City airport was not needed, and was creating over capacity for Belfast. Meanwhile Aer Lingus is thought to be switching its operations from Belfast International Airport to Belfast City Airport, after the City airport lost BMI Baby. Aer Lingus flies to Heathrow and 7 European destinations, but it is thought it may expand routes to regional UK airports from the City and compete with Flybe. The move could happen soon, and the City Airport would have Belfast’s only Heathrow connection.
Belfast Airport will not close, says City chief
By Lesley-Anne McKeown
16.6.2012 (Belfast Telegraph)
Controversial claims that Belfast should have just one airport have prompted an angry reaction.
Brian Ambrose, chief executive of George Best Belfast City Airport, has dismissed the remarks made by the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) link at a Commons Select Committee hearing as laughable.
“How do you close Belfast City Airport?” he said.
“We are a privately-owned company. People cannot wish us away. Our competition may wish to debate this further but we are a profitable, privately-owned business.
“This would be like the CEO of Tesco saying that Northern Ireland would be better served if Sainsbury’s and their other competitors disappeared. If he suggested that, everyone would laugh.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion and to engage in the debate but the reality is that for someone to close City Airport they would need to be paying around £200m.”
BALPA general secretary Jim McAuslan sparked controversy when he told MPs investigating Northern Ireland’s air links with the rest of the UK and beyond that moving to one airport would be a “brave thing to do, but the right thing to do”.
“The people responding to our survey did not see the sense of two airports, 14 miles apart,” he said at Westminster on Wednesday.
“It was an over capacity, and the wrong sort of capacity, because the one that seems the most sensible has got the shortest runway or not the appropriate runway.”
Katie Best, City Airport’s commercial and marketing director, said: “Nobody is ever going to suggest that you close down either airport and put thousands of jobs at risk.
“In a hypothetical situation where you are talking about only having one airport in Northern Ireland, there would be a debate, yes, to say that a 24-hour airport would be the one that would be sustained, but there would also be a strong argument to maintain the airport that people prefer to use, and that’s City Airport.”
Meanwhile, Uel Hoey from Belfast International Airport has said there needs to be a debate on air provision in Northern Ireland.
He said the industry was getting bogged down with “local competition” and it was time to look at how an international facility is served in order to drive the Northern Ireland economy forward.
Consumer Council chief executive Antoinette McKeown said the current set-up should stay because it offers passengers a choice, adding: “They are both private concerns. They do not take money from the public purse.
“Since competition was effectively introduced, both airports have doubled in size.”
A Northern Ireland Select Committee is probing air links in light of the Government’s Civil Aviation Bill, which will change the way the industry is regulated.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/belfast-airport-will-not-close-says-city-chief-16172981.html?r=RSS
15 June 2012 (BBC)
Aer Lingus to switch to George Best Belfast City Airport
By Jim Fitzpatrick (BBC NI economics and business editor)
Aer Lingus is thought to be on the move into east Belfast
Aer Lingus is planning to switch its operations from Belfast International Airport to Belfast City Airport.
The move follows the City’s loss of BMI Baby – which carried 400,000 passengers a year – and gives an indication of the Irish airline’s intentions.
Aer Lingus flies to Heathrow and seven European destinations, but it is thought it may expand routes to regional UK airports from the City.
This would fill some of the lost BMI Baby routes and compete with Flybe.
Belfast International Airport has yet to comment on the move.
A spokesperson for George Best Belfast City Airport said: “Following the announcement of the departure of bmi baby we stated that we were confident that we would attract new airlines.
“This position has not changed and we expect to make several announcements in the coming weeks.
“We are certainly not in a position to comment on speculation regarding specific airlines at this stage.”
Confirmation from the airline may follow a board meeting next week.
The BBC understands flights could be moved to Belfast City within weeks and that a formal announcement may come in days.
The move will also make George Best Belfast City Airport, Belfast’s only Heathrow connection.
With the takeover of BMI by British Airways there had been concerns over that route.
BA has confirmed its commitment to the route but there remains speculation that there may be long-term plans for both airlines to work together on the Belfast-Heathrow connection.
Aer Lingus currently operates flights to Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, London Heathrow, Malaga and Tenerife.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18454784
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Posted: Saturday, June 16th, 2012. Filed in News about Airports, Recent News.
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Residents in Frankfurt, whose homes are now blighted by noise from the new 4th runway, that produces much more aircraft noise than expected, now know their property values are being seriously reduced. A recent study found the decline is up to 30%, in 20 communities around the airport. Those who can afford to are moving out of the area. The cost of compensating all those affected would be enormous, and so they are saying that the noise has to be reduced substantially.
DEPRECIATION: Aircraft noise lowers real estate prices
From JUTTA RIPPEGATHER
14.6.2012
Luxurious living on the mountain lark – that was then. Photo: DAPD
[Very badly translated article from the German - apologies for the the translation quality !]
Because of aircraft noise properties lose their value in the Frankfurt south – up to 30%, concludes a study commissioned by the Left Group in order. The way the compensation is too expensive. It should be working on the sound insulation.
Prior to the opening of the runway in October, the house with a garden lark at Frankfurt mountain was worth 1.3 million euros. Now it is sold. To an investor from Dubai – for less than one million, says estate agent Lydia Ishikawa, who lives in the neighborhood. “The bargain hunters are on the road.”
Even in less polluted corners of the south of Frankfurt, a fall in prices was observed. Instead of the desired 3,500 euros per square meter, the owner of a nice penthouse apartment had reached only 3,000 €.
The Frankfurt airport has lost in May, another freight business. In the month of Germany’s largest hub were 168 000 tonnes of air freight – a 10.6 percent less than a year before – loaded as the operating company Fraport reported on Thursday.
When the passengers saw a slight increase of Frankfurt 1.4 percent to 5.1 million passengers. This was in May 2012, the strongest of all time. The comparatively small increase in passengers despite broadened runway capacity Fraport led back to the many holidays in May.
At the Group’s airports with Fraport’s majority-owned passenger numbers rose by 0.4 percent to just under nine million. The freight and mail volume fell by 8.5 percent throughout the group to just under 195,000 tonnes. Declining freight volumes are announcing an economic downturn.
A development that is observed in the whole Rhine-Main area: The aircraft noise leads to a loss in property value of up to 30 percent. This is the conclusion of a study that created the Darmstadt Rhein-Main-Institut and the Technical University of Chemnitz on behalf of the Left Group in the Hesse state parliament. The team led by Friedrich Thiessen has to brokers interviewed 30 in 20 communities around the Frankfurt airport.
Regional fund falls short
Researchers looked at four smaller areas with a total area of 80 hectares in Offenbach, Mülheim, and came to the conclusion that planned by the State Government regional funding falls short: 8.4 million euros per year would be only the people living there entitled to as compensation as Thiessen. “This highlights the enormous costs, which causes the noise and the huge social injustices, which manages the air traffic.” The way of compensation was too expensive. “It must therefore be gone very heavily in the direction of active noise control.”
How this might look like, Dirk spent grain from the interest group says the fight against aircraft noise: a ban on night flights 22-6 clock and a noise limit of 40 decibels on the day the World Health Organization calls for five years.
Less noise alone brings relief, and Younes Erhardt says the club house & basic Hesse. If not, would in the Rhine-Main area in many places reduced the value of the property, “and stay out.” And not only that
Those who can afford to move away. Thus could the disturb the social equilibrium of the area, the home Nassau warns in its opinion, the Regional Fund bill. Then not only property owners would have a problem, but also politics.
Original article in German at
http://www.fr-online.de/flughafen-frankfurt/wertverlust-fluglaerm-senkt-immobilienpreise,2641734,16385362.html
A local resident in Frankfurt, affected by the aircraft noise and the reduction in property values writes:
“We are now seeing more and more articles about the loss in house values of 30% and
more for the Southern part of Frankfurt. These are real losses, as they refer to people leaving the area because of the abusive noise. This reduction in price is significant as house prices are going up steeply by more than 20% per year in
formerly comparable areas in other parts of the city. The areas of Niederrad,
Lerchesberg, Sachsenhausen were between the highest valued living areas of
Frankfurt until October 2011. Not any more! That is thanks FRAPORT and Lufthansa.
“It is also interesting that the comments in the papers are not only referring to the loss for
the concerned owners but refers also to the negative social changes for the city as people seek to move away. It is obvious that the population will change, and this will become socially a burden for the city.
“If you consider that Frankfurt is one of the 3 final candidates for the ”Green European City Award 2012″ you can but worry what on earth must the other candidates be like?”
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More news and information about Frankfurt airport and protests against the runway at Frankfurt Airport
Blog by John Stewart on what is happening with protests against German airport expansion at
AirportWatch Blog
Posted: Friday, June 15th, 2012. Filed in News about Airports, Recent News.
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Nearly 600 homeowners and 6 schools in Knutsford and Mobberley are to get a pay out for the building of Manchester Airport’s 2nd runway. This will come from the airport’s owner, the Manchester Airports Group. The householders say claimed their properties were devalued due to the noise from the planes since the runway opened in 2001. The schools will get £1,300 each. This has been brokered by local MP, the Chancellor George Osborne, and Jeff Gazzard. Two years ago 300 Knutsford and Mobberley residents were compensated. This is the final compensation and the end of an 11 year battle. The total payout comes to £1 million. The airport will also pay the council tax precept, £117,702. which is levied to fund Knutsford town council and Mobberley parish council, for one year.
15 June 2012 (BBC)
Homes to get Manchester Airport runway compensation
Nearly 600 households will get £1,500 each
Nearly 600 homeowners and six schools in Knutsford and Mobberley are to get a pay out for the building of Manchester Airport’s second runway.
The householders, who claimed their properties were devalued due to the noise from the planes since the runway opened in 2001, will get £1,500 each.
Six local schools will also receive £1,300 each from the airport’s owner The Manchester Airports Group.
Two years ago 300 Knutsford and Mobberley residents were compensated.
Five hundred and eighty-three households are to receive payments under the deal brokered by local MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne and Jeff Gazzard, from the Manchester Airport Environment Network.
“It is a very acceptable final line to draw under second runway compensation,” said Mr Gazzard.
‘Legal inequity’
Roisin Moores, head teacher of St Vincent de Paul Primary in Knutsford, who speaks on behalf of the six schools affected, said the runway had had a marked impact on teaching.
“You can always guarantee that there will be a certain time in the day when you have to stop talking in the classroom,” she said.
A Manchester Airports Group statement said: “The legal process for Runway two claims formally concluded in 2010.
“However, since then, George Osborne MP and Jeff Gazzard have presented us with a convincing case which showed inequity in the legal process.
“We’ve now agreed with them a final package of benefits as a goodwill payment.
“We hope that this demonstrates our commitment to work with our local communities and finally draws a line under this process.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18452069
Airport pays £1million in compensation to entire village after noise and fumes slashed value of their properties… but that’s just £1,500 for each household
- 583 homeowners will receive £1,500 each because house prices have been hit
- Payout marks the end of an 11-year battle over the second runway
- Chancellor George Osborne, who us the local MP, said it is a ‘good outcome’ for homeowners
By ROB COOPER
15.6.2012 (Daily Mail)
Hundreds of homeowners will share £1million compensation from Manchester Airport after noise and fumes from a second runway slashed the value of their homes.
Nearly 600 homeowners will receive £1,500 each – 11 years after the runway first opened in 2001.
The payout marks the end of the long-running legal battle which has seen the airport pay out more than £9million compensation.
The 583 households in Knutsford and Mobberley who lodged claims will receive the new payout.
The airport will also pay the council tax precept, which is levied to fund Knutsford town council and Mobberley parish council, for one year.
This will be worth £117,702 in total – and will benefit every household in the area. Six local state schools will also receive a £1,300 one-off payment after the deal was struck.
Chancellor George Osborne, whose Tatton constituency covers the area, said the compensation payout was a ‘good outcome’ for property owners.
Airport chiefs had said they would not hand out any more cash because a legal time-limit for claims had passed.
Campaigners from the Manchester Airport Environment Network, led by Knutsford resident Jeff Gazzard, and Mr Osborne held talks with airport bosses to try and secure a fresh pay out to those who had not submitted claims before the 2010 deadline.
Pollution: Homeowners in Knutsford and Mobberley, which is to the south of Manchester, pictured, have campaigned over the second runway for 11 years
Mr Osborne said: ‘Years of hard campaigning have finally paid off. I want to thank local people for their support and Jeff Gazzard for all his work – he has been a star. At last we have a fair deal for local communities.’
Mr Gazzard welcomed the compensation settlement – and said it would end a decade of campaigning.
‘It’s an acceptable deal,’ he added. ‘We were totally reliant on the airport’s good will because legal timeframes for compensation had passed so this was a fair solution.
‘I don’t think it is tokenistic but some people may be a little disappointed at the amount – they probably wanted a little more. We’ve taken extreme care to get this right and this now draws a line under the second runway issue.’
A spokesman for Manchester Airport said: ‘The legal process for Runway 2 claims formally concluded in 2010. However, since then, George Osborne MP and Jeff Gazzard have presented us with a convincing case which showed inequity in the legal process.
‘We have now agreed with them a final package of benefits as a goodwill payment.
‘We hope that this demonstrates our commitment to work with our local communities as a responsible business and finally draws a line under this process.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2159846/Homeowners-1m-compensation-Manchester-Airport-noise-fumes-second-runway.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Earlier:
15 July 2010
Lawyers agree over Manchester Airport second runway
Airport and residents’ lawyers will work out individual payments. Manchester Airport has agreed a compensation deal with residents who claim the value of their homes has been affected by the second runway. More than 300 homeowners living in Knutsford and Mobberley have been calling for compensation since 2001.
They claim that their quality of life and houses prices were diminished by additional flightpath noise. An airport spokesman said it was committed to working with residents to work out individual claims.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-10656179
Airport may face more claims for compensation
Exclusive by Alice McKeegan September 11, 2010
Manchester Airport could be hit with more compensation claims – just weeks after agreeing a multi-million pound payout. In July, the M.E.N. revealed bosses reached a compensation package – over properties devalued by noise and fumes – with more than 330 residents of Mobberley and Knutsford in Cheshire, who lodged claims over the second runway. Now campaigners have warned that another 700 homes could have claims and have promised to support them if they decide to pursue legal action. The airport will not give details of the compensation already paid, but campaigners say it is between £5m-£9m. It is understood that not all householders received the same amount. The size of the payouts was determined by property value and closeness to the flight path. Link to article
Families ready for take off in runway battle
18th February 2010
A multi-million pound lawsuit over claims that noise and fumes from planes have
slashed the value of homes near Manchester Airport is to be heard in court. More
than 200 householders have lodged compensation claims over the airport’s 2nd runway,
which opened in 2002. If all the claims are successful, the total bill could
be up to £9m. The hearing is expected to take place over several days in September.
(Manchester Evening News)
Click here to view full story…
Mixed response to airport compensation deal
21.7.2010
KNUTSFORD and Mobberley residents have given a mixed response to the news that Manchester Airport has agreed a deal with solicitors over the creation of the second runway.
In last week’s Guardian, Hugh James solicitors, acting on behalf of homeowners in the area, revealed they had reached an agreement with Manchester Airport over compensation for those who have seen the price of their homes affected in the wake of the construction of Runway Two.
Homeowners have contacted the Guardian to express their feelings about the agreement, but have not wished to disclose their names in case it harms their position in relation to receiving the money.
All have revealed that the cheques have yet to be sent out, but they had 10 days to accept the offer. A Mobberley resident, who did not wish to be named, said it was a case of take it or leave it. “We weren’t given the choice of taking it further, but they told us we should accept the offer,” she said.
“After all this time I am upset, I just thought when I read in the Guardian that the residents were happy, someone is telling them a bit of a story – no way am I happy.
“The letter told us to sign within 10 days or you can go and fight it on your own.
Jeff Gazzard, Knutsford resident and aviation campaigner, told the Guardian that the agreement could open compensation for people not originally part of the Hugh James group.
“It is important to find out if there are any confidential agreements, and I know a couple of the claimants who will be interested to know,” he said.
“I believe the airport should offer to pay for who was in a house in the area before the runway opened.”
If anyone has any queries regarding the compensation deal the airport has asked them to call Hugh James on 029 2022 4871
http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news/8283675.Mixed_response_to_airport_compensation_deal/
Residents demand compensation over night flights switch at Manchester Airport
6.1.2011
Residents are demanding compensation over night-time flights being switched during runway work at Manchester airport. A £20m refurbishment of the main runway has started, closing it at night for eight months. But people living near Runway Two claim their sleep patterns will be disturbed because night-time take-offs and landings are being moved there until September. The huge programme of work to overhaul Runway One started this week. It is the biggest ever refurbishment of the runway since the airport opened in 1938 but chiefs have stressed that passengers will not be affected. Now, Knutsford resident and airport campaigner Jeff Gazzard has hit out at the airport’s handling of the closure and called on bosses to pay compensation to those affected. Link to article
Posted: Friday, June 15th, 2012. Filed in General News, News about Airports, Recent News.
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The Evening Standard seems to have taken it upon itself, under the editorship of Sarah Sands, to persuade Londoners and the government that a third runway at Heathrow is needed, and must be built in order to save the UK from an economic fate “worse than death”. It has produced about one article per day on the subject, over the past 2 weeks or so. Even though there is no new news, and nothing new to say – other than to keep trotting out the same arguments and the same people. To keep tabs, here is an (incomplete) list of the recent articles. You wouldn’t want to miss one! There are bound to be more … we’ll try and keep track with them. And there’s a link to John Stewart’s blog on this strange, biased, one-sided barrage of pro-Heathrow PR that the Standard has embarked upon.
Blog by John Stewart
7.6.2012
How the Standard has become the cheerleader for the aviation industry since its new editor took over
The London Evening Standard has become the cheerleader for the aviation industry. You can date it to the time Sarah Sands took over as editor on 30th March.
A series of Tory MPs lined up today to back David Cameron for opening the door to a third runway at Heathrow.
14.6.2012
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Heathrow airport is increasingly “cut off” from the rest of the world compared with its major European rivals, new figures show.
13 June 2012
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The lure of souvlaki, sardines and spaghetti hasn’t been enough to outweigh headlines about the eurozone crisis: fewer Britons are flying to Greece, Portugal and Italy this year.
12 June 2012
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Democracy may rule out an airport solution
By editor, Sarah Sands
On Heathrow 3rd runway. ”When Margaret Thatcher wanted to build the Channel Tunnel she just did it. We may never be so bold — or anti-democratic — again.”
12 June 2012
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It takes just 11 minutes to get from plane to terminal building exit after landing on the spectacular man-made island that is home to Hong Kong airport.
07 June 2012
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A group of ministers and MPs has broken ranks on Heathrow and is calling for a third runway to go ahead for the sake of jobs and trade.
29 May 2012
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A member of the International Olympic Committee today branded Heathrow airport a “nightmare” after enduring a two-hour wait at immigration.
28 May 2012
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Heathrow’s runways and terminals should be bulldozed to make way for a “garden city”, says a new report to be published tomorrow.
28 May 2012
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London’s three main airports may all need new runways to meet demand in future decades, a Conservative report says today.
24 May 2012
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Business chiefs today told Londoners to stop being “squeamish” about a third Heathrow runway.
23 May 2012
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Heathrow is falling far behind rival European airports with France putting on twice as many flights to key growth economies such as China, it emerged today.
22 May 2012
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Britain will miss out on more than £100 billion over the next two decades if the Government ignores London’s “shocking” airport crisis, ministers were warned today.
21 May 2012
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Lord Foster said today that an airport in the Thames Estuary would connect London to growing economies and create thousands of acres of wildlife habitat.
18 May 2012
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Residents of west London today urged the Government to “put people first” as they backed plans to build a new airport in the Thames Estuary to solve Britain’s aviation crisis.
18 May 2012
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Urgent action to solve London’s airport capacity crisis was demanded today by a former government international business czar.
17 May 2012
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Boris Johnson today warned the Government not to support the expansion of Heathrow Airport as it tries to solve the aviation crisis.
17 May 2012
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Outraged residents whose homes would be flattened by a third Heathrow runway today warned they will “fight tooth and nail” to block the move.
16 May 2012
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Long waits for passengers at the UK’s airports will depend on the wind, the Immigration Minister said today.
15 May 2012
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A new hub airport in the Thames estuary would transform London and bring benefits that will last for more than 500 years, Boris Johnson’s top aviation adviser said today.
15 May 2012
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Today’s comments on Heathrow from Colin Matthews, chief executive of airport owner BAA, will add to the pressure on ministers to come up with a new airports strategy. He warns that Heathrow may in 15 years be a “branch line” while the limited number of routes it serves is at odds with the Government’s ambition for UK expansion into new markets, including China.
14 May 2012
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London will lose its status as a global travel powerhouse within years unless the Government takes urgent action to solve the capital’s aviation crisis, airport bosses said today.
14 May 2012
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The world’s economies are slowing down, triggering reduced demand for freight to be flown from one country to another.
11 May 2012
Posted: Thursday, June 14th, 2012. Filed in News about Airports, Recent News.
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The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has been told it is not sensible for Belfast to have two airports that are just 14 miles apart. This was the evidence from BALPA, which said its members agreed Northern Ireland only needed one main airport. BALPA said the decision on whether it should be at George Best Belfast City Airport or Belfast International was a matter for politicians – and that there was currently over capacity in Northern Ireland and it was the “wrong sort of capacity”. MPs have already taken evidence from representatives of both airports, as well as from City of Derry Airport and will hear more evidence next week
13 June 2012 (BBC)
Northern Ireland ‘does not need two airports 14 miles apart’
It is not sensible for Belfast to have two airports that are just 14 miles apart, the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has been told.
Jim McAuslan, general secretary of the British Airline Pilots Association, told MPs there needs to be debate about airport provision in Northern Ireland.
The committee was examining air links to and from Northern Ireland.
Mr McAuslan said his members had been asked whether NI should only have one airport and they had agreed.
He said the decision on whether it should be at George Best Belfast City Airport or Belfast International was a matter for politicians.
Mr McAuslan told MPs “it comes down to politicians and how brave politicians are going to be”.
He said it was important there was a debate about airport provision and concentrating resources at one site would be “a brave thing to do”.
Mr McAuslan represents 70 pilots in Northern Ireland.
He said that his members told him that there was over capacity in Northern Ireland and there was the “wrong sort of capacity”.
He added that any debate over airport provision would have to examine areas such as safety and public demand.
Antoinette McKeown, the chief executive of the NI Consumer Council told MPs that both George Best Belfast City Airport and Belfast International were “private concerns that don’t take money from the public purse”.
She said both airports offered “consumer choice and the sustainability seems to be there”.
MPs have already taken evidence from representatives of both airports, as well as from City of Derry Airport.
They are to take more evidence next week.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18432949
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News and information about
Posted: Thursday, June 14th, 2012. Filed in News about Airports, Recent News.
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Declan Collier took over as MD of London City Airport in March. He plans to expand the 130-acre site’s runway area and invest in new stands as part of a drive to reach 7m passengers annually by 2016 (it handled 3.3 million at its peak in 2008). There was a serious decline in passengers since 2008, though they increased by 7% in 2011 compared to 2010, but are still only around 3 million. Collier wants to put in place an investment and infrastructure plan to facilitate growth, and this may involve new investors coming in and current infrastructure fund owners GIP and Highstar Capital diluting their holdings. There are plans to increase the number of stands from 18 to 23, and “build a new runway area to increase ‘movements’ from 36 to 41 an hour “and introduce a new generation of aircraft to increase passenger numbers.
Interview: Declan Collier, chief executive of London City Airport
London must feel like an oasis of calm for Declan Collier. After the abuse he’s endured in his home country of Ireland, it would have been a blessed relief to leave the Emerald Isle far behind.
If the new boss of London City Airport feels a little guarded as he shows off his new workplace, it’s no great surprise – he’s been through the mill in recent years.
Take Ryanair’s farewell note to the former boss of Dublin Airport Authority, the state-owned organisation in charge of airports in the Irish capital, Shannon and Cork. The message from Michael O’Leary’s airline left little to the imagination as it reacted to the “fat cat’s” resignation last November.
“Mr Collier’s departure means that he will not be forced to tidy-up his own mess, reverse the DAA’s record traffic losses, or explain how he blew €1.2bn on a terminal he originally said would cost less than one sixth of the final figure,” Ryanair said.
So, did Collier leave Dublin behind to get away from O’Leary? “Absolutely not,” says the Irishman with a laugh, perhaps wisely avoiding taking on Ryanair’s somewhat selective facts and figures. “He’s a challenging business partner but I didn’t come to work at London City because Ryanair wasn’t here.”
But come he did, arriving in March this year to replace Richard Gooding who’d worked as chief executive for 16 years, building London City from a business with a few hundred thousands passengers a year to one handling 3.3m at its peak in 2008.
“Like any airport around the globe, we saw a fairly precipitative decline in passenger numbers in 2008/9, but have seen that recover. Passenger numbers were up 7pc in 2011, back over the 3m mark, and by 5.5pc so far this year,” he says. “We see the potential for strong organic growth. What we’ve got to do is put in place an investment and infrastructure plan that will facilitate that.”
Reports suggest that will involve new investors coming in and current infrastructure fund owners GIP and Highstar Capital diluting their holdings. GIP, which also owns major stakes in Gatwick and Edinburgh, has form in syndicating out its holdings and Collier won’t discount a similar move at London City. “They’re leaving their options open. There’s no reason to believe they wouldn’t be willing to put equity in,” he says. “My brief was to come in and help the business realise its potential. A sale or the introduction of new investors will be elements of what we look at.” Collier claims the Olympics will put London City in the shop window – it sounds like that’s exactly where the owners would like it to be.
There’s certainly a positive story to tell. Anyone who’s used London City will know it’s a world away from Heathrow’s out-dated, over-crowded halls. At 2pm on a weekday afternoon London City arrivals feels more like a library than an international airport. The baggage track is 29 yards long – at Beijing it’s more like 80 miles, Collier points out.
The airport works to a 20-10 blueprint – it should take a passenger no more than 20 minutes from arrivals to the departure gate and no more than 10 from landing to the taxi rank. “Many airports are struggling because of their age – they’re retro-fitting like crazy to prolong their lives. It’s like open-heart surgery as flights are landing and taking off around you,” Collier says, pointing out that London City was only opened in 1987. “We’re using facial recognition to track people through the airport – how they shop, rest, what toilets they use. It allows you to design an airport according to what the passenger wants.”
There are drawbacks. Planning restrictions mean the airport – which generates revenues of about £85m and employs 550 staff – has to operate peculiar hours. It’s shut from 9.30pm to 5.30am and from midday Saturday to the same time on Sunday. The short runway – and there is room for only one – also limits the size of the aircraft able to use the airport. Plans to increase the number of stands from 18 to 23, build a new runway area to increase ‘movements’ from 36 to 41 an hour and introduce a new generation of aircraft to increase passenger numbers are all a must if the airport is going to continue to compete.
In many ways, its success thus far has been not only a consequence of its location – just minutes from Canary Wharf – but also the wider failings of London’s infrastructure. The capital’s lack of airport space and capacity constraints of its biggest hub Heathrow are well documented.
Where does London City sit in the debate over the opposing calls for a third runway at Heathrow, a new Thames estuary airport or the loosening of planning restrictions at Gatwick? “The big issue for London is a lack of capacity and that’s most acute at Heathrow. Larger aircraft can only do so much and we see a role for London City in helping with those capacity problems. But clearly we’re not going to solve the issues of the London airport system.
“The great tragedy is that London is an important part of the UK economy but it’s missing opportunities, they’re sliding by. And the point that might well be missed is that these opportunities don’t come back,” he says, pointing for example to last month’s decision by Comac, the Chinese aerospace group, to base its European headquarters in Paris instead of London. “You have to believe that any government will have the economy at heart and will carry out an open and objective review of what is needed.”
For now, Collier thinks London City is well placed. “We have the capacity here, we’re in the right place and we’re in the right City,” he says. So small in this case isn’t all bad? “My mother used to tell me that great things come in small packages. I’ve lived by that over the years.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/9322616/Interview-Declan-Collier-chief-executive-of-London-City-Airport.html
Wikipedia says, on the constraints on the number of planes and the runway length:
Operations
The airport has stringent rules imposed to limit the noise impact from aircraft operations. This, together with the physical dimensions of the 1,508 m (4,948 ft) long runway and the steep glideslope, limits the aircraft types that can use London City Airport.
Mid-range airliners seen at London City include the ATR 42 (both −300 and −500 variants), ATR72, Airbus A318, DHC Dash 8, BAe 146,Dornier 328, Embraer ERJ 135, Embraer 170,[12] Embraer 190 and Fokker 50. On 30 January 2009, trials were completed successfully with the ATR72-500, leading to its approval for use at the airport.[13] The Embraer 190SR underwent trials from 28 March 2009, and thereafter gained approval.[13] The Fokker F70, BAe Jetstream 41, Saab 340 and Saab 2000 also have approval for scheduled operations at the airport.
Corporate aircraft such as the Beechcraft Super King Air, Cessna CitationJet series, Hawker 400, Hawker 800, Piaggio Avanti and variants of the Dassault Falcon business jets are increasingly common. Helicopters are denied access for environmental reasons.
The size and layout of the airport and overall complexity caused by the lack of taxiways mean that the airport gets very busy during peak hours. The air traffic controllers have to deal with over 38 flights an hour on a runway requiring a lengthy backtrack for each aircraft needing to depart from runway 27 or land on runway 9.
Operations are restricted to 06:30 to 22:00 Monday to Friday, 06:30 to 12:30 on Saturdays and 12:30 to 22:00 on Sundays. These restrictions are related to noise.[1]
The size of the airport, constrained by the water-filled Royal Albert and King George V docks to the north and south respectively, means that there are no covered maintenance facilities for aircraft.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_City_Airport
Posted: Tuesday, June 12th, 2012. Filed in News about Airports, Recent News.
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There have been peaceful, but noisy, protests in the centre of Frankfurt, against the expansion of Frankfurt airport. The protests happened in the city centre, outside St Paul’s Church were Chancellor Angela Merkel was attending the retirement ceremony for the Mayor, Petra Roth. Angela Merkel praised Petra Roth as being one of the most successful mayors in Germany. The Mayor has been in favour of expansion of Frankfurt airport and the new runway, which has been the cause of the new aircraft noise problem that so many Frankfurt citizens are suffering. This protest, by perhaps 1,000 people, who threw foam balls, let off sparklers and banged drums, was in addition to the weekly protests against the noise that take place at the airport. There were some scuffles with the heavy police presence.
[Apologies for the very, very bad translation below of these German articles - but it gives the gist of what is being said]
12.6.2012
Protest at the departure of OB Petra Roth
Inside, everything is festive, while outside the aircraft noise opponents loudly demonstrate but peaceful. The only stones that fly towards the police, are made of foam.
Before Paul’s Church in Frankfurt on Monday afternoon, according to show organizers of the 3000 people against aircraft noise, while adopted in St. Paul’s Church OB Petra Roth after 17 years in office.
Police say nearly 500 aircraft noise activists and about 70 autonomous.
Photo: AP
Outside, in front of St. Paul’s Church, are still at the police cordons.
Members of the Black Bloc at the start of the demonstration in the Braubachstrasse throwing foam rubber balls
Police push protesters at St. Paul’s Church behind a barrier.
http://www.fr-online.de/petra-roth-peter-feldmann,11317964,16350398.html
Scorn and ridicule rain on Monday afternoon, not only in the form of words for the police officers down. The 70 activists, the so-called black bloc throwing, laughing with black painted foam blocks around and to the officials who let this stoically endure. “Thank you again very much to the police for their successful blockade concept,” scoffs Antifa activist Leo Schneider in the direction of the uniform.
Three times as many civil servants are dressed in the black Braubachstrasse.Access to them is a 15 Paulsplatz clock nor denied. The tram lines 11 and 12 were diverted, blocked off the area around the spacious St. Paul’s Church. The Federal Criminal Police Office had passed because of the participation of Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), and many bankers in the adoption of Petra Roth (CDU) to an increased safety concept.
Farewell ceremony for OB Petra Roth (CDU)
While the activists with children fireworks and sparklers “rampage”, drums and whistles, which are increasingly becoming the enemy aircraft noise arriving guests receive the commemorative event. Do not meet the very different parties. Torsten Welte of the Civil Air Transport Initiative Offenbach commented on the arrival of the guests of honor from the direction of Berlin street with the words: “This was to be expected, that do not arrive on this page. Merkel has “come he is the official adoption of Roth’s, so that” no interest in a dialogue with citizens’ initiatives. Does not have a brilliant finish. “
http://www.fr-online.de/petra-roth-peter-feldmann,11317964,16350398.html
Kudos to Roth
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and OB Petra Roth (CDU). Photo: AP
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) commends Petra Roth (CDU) at St Paul’s Church as one of the most successful mayors in Germany. Headwinds coming from outside. There demonstration aircraft noise activists.
There are some that these clouds parting. Mayor of Frankfurt Petra Roth goes after 40 years in local politics and 17 years at the helm of the city. The Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) party of their friend in St. Paul’s Church, “a heartfelt thank you,” says, take the 900 guests of honor with applause. Even Merkel’s judgment: “You can be proud of your performance as Mayor and President of the German Association of Cities look!”
But the protesters with whistles, drums and horns are people out there in front of St. Paul’s Church not think so. 450 airport expansion opponents and 70 left-wing activists is one of the police. Around 3000 there were according to the organizers.Aircraft noise opponents accuse Roth as autonomous, to have the end of their term of office once again restricted the freedom to demonstrate. The citizens’ groups against the new runway erstreiten only before the Administrative Court that they may enter the Paulsplatz at least marginally. This is an “absolute scandal,” says Michael Wilk of an alliance of citizens’ groups against airport expansion in Wiesbaden. “In the course of Blockupy demonstrations of what we saw that the issue is to allow democratic rights only when they are used in a non-disruptive way for the ruling politicians.” To the maximum sound decreed by the Court of 80 decibels at the rally holds None of the speakers. “This is a de facto ban on speaking the same, because we had so sound for only three to four meters,” says Wilk.
There is more news and information (in English) about Frankfurt airport at Frankfurt Airport
Posted: Tuesday, June 12th, 2012. Filed in News about Airports, Publicity & Politics, Recent News.
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