Ancient forest threatened by airport expansion bid
The 1,000 acres of woodland and pasture in north Essex stands less than a mile
from Stansted airport, beloved of millions of users of no-frills airlines and
the proposed site for a £2.7bn second runway to cater for a massive expansion
of passengers and aircraft in south-east England. A public inquiry begins on
30th May, into urgent proposals by the British Airport Authority to expand the
permitted number of passengers by 10 million to 35 million a year and flights
by more than 20,000 to 264,000 a year. The present limit of 25 million is expected
to be reached by 2008. If the second runway is built, 68 million passengers are
forecast for Stansted by 2030. But in what will be the most demanding test yet
for the Government’s plans to expand aviation, environmental groups and residents
say the proposals must be refused to avoid an increase in pollution which would
destroy the forest for little or no economic gain. Hatfield Forest is among
the few surviving havens of ancient woodland in Britain, with nearly 2,000 trees
that are more than 600 years old. But nitrogen levels around the forest generated
by air pollution from aircraft and vehicles is already twice that at which environmental
damage, including tree death, is caused, says the National Trust. (Independent)
Ancient forest threatened by airport expansion bid
http://environment.independent.co.uk/wildlife/article2591470.ece