Bristol campaigners say NO to airport hotel

29.7.2010 (Stop Bristol Airport Expansion)

Stop Bristol Airport Expansion (SBAE) is calling for the withdrawal of the planning
application for a hotel at Bristol Airport which will displace car parking onto
green belt land, until a decision has been made by the Secretary of State on whether
to allow development on green belt.


The campaigners say that the hotel, which is planned to be built on the present
long stay car parking and car hire return areas, should not be given the go-ahead
because that space should be used for further car parking to save the green belt
land on the south side.  

 

SBAE will be highlighting that the application for a 250 room hotel means that
local B&B’s, hotels and pubs will lose out.

 

Bristol Airport’s current planning permission from North Somerset Council, which
will allow a 60% rise in passengers by 2020, cannot be acted upon until a decision
is made by the Secretary of State whether to allow development on green belt land
and a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

 

SBAE spokesperson Hilary Burn said:


"This hotel is planned for land that should be used for car parking if the rest
of Bristol airport’s plans go ahead – this application shouldn’t even be considered
by North Somerset Council until we have a decision from the Secretary of State
on development on the green belt land that will be visible from the Mendips.

 

"This is another example of Bristol Airport’s lack of concern for the local environment
and local communities. The airport already has the monopoly on car parking – a
big new hotel will take away from local businesses such as pubs and B&B’s.
Despite claims that its prices will be set higher than nearby accommodation, of
which there is plenty, pricing structures are always a moveable feast.”

 

“The application for the terminal expansion, currently waiting for a decision
from the Secretary of State on whether to hold a public inquiry, implied a 120
room hotel, yet the aim is now for 250 rooms. This makes it hard to see how the
airport hotel will not impact on other providers of accommodation and therefore
how it will be economically beneficial. The decision on the main terminal application
is also thrown into doubt by such a change to the size of the hotel.  

 

"As it is, Bristol airport currently has no need to expand as its June passenger
numbers are still well below 2008 levels.   We urge anyone concerned about this
latest application (ref: 10/P/1240/F) to lodge an objection to North Somerset
Council. Please check www.stopbia.com regularly for details on when and how to comment."


In the meantime, SBAE are raising a fighting fund to pay legal costs to challenge
the council’s flawed decision that allows the airport to expand.

 

 

To make a donation to the Stop Bristol Airport Expansion campaign, please use
the Paypal donation link at  
www.stopbia.com or send a cheque made out to ‘SBAE’ to Stop Bristol Airport Expansion, c/o The
Hub, 3rd Floor, Bush House, 72 Prince Street, Bristol BS1 4QD.

 

 

ENDS

 

For media enquiries contact Hilary Burn on: 07854 444609 or Susan Pearson on:
07891 460942. For more information visit: www.stopbia.com


Notes


1] The hotel application has been made by Pedersen (Airports Ltd) for a 251 bedroom
hotel.     However, the original plan suggested a mid range 120 bedroom hotel. This
will be a 2 star hotel.


2] June passenger numbers for Bristol Airport:


June 2008 : 613,338

June 2009 : 537,000

June 2010 : 583,000  

 

3] The planning application to expand Lydd Airport in Kent has been called in
(see:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-255198), which sets a precedent to call in the Bristol Airport application.