STOP STANSTED EXPANSION PUBLIC INQUIRY EVIDENCE STARTS

Date added: 15 July, 2007

Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) will begin giving evidence on Tuesday 17 July at
the Public Inquiry into plans to expand the capacity of Stansted’s single runway.  
Their evidence continues all week, and also from 24th to 27th July.

Details – from SSE press release:

 STANSTED PUBLIC INQUIRY

DIARY DATES for Tuesday 17 July – Friday 27 July 2007

ISSUED BY STOP STANSTED EXPANSION

STOP STANSTED EXPANSION PUBLIC INQUIRY EVIDENCE STARTS

 Location:   Endeavour House, Coopers End Road, Stansted Airport CM24 1SJ

(from M11 junction 8, follow airport terminal signs then yellow ‘Public Inquiry’
signs; shuttle bus available from airport terminal if travelling by public transport)

 

Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) will begin giving evidence on Tuesday 17 July at
the Public Inquiry into plans to expand the capacity of Stansted’s single runway.  
Copies of all proofs of evidence are accessible online at

http://www.stopstanstedexpansion.com/r1_public_inquiry4.html.  

The order of appearances for the eight days of evidence is as follows (correct
at the time of writing):

 

Tuesday 17 July:

– Opening statement (Counsel – Paul Stinchcombe) (details will be issued to the
media on 17 July)

– Peter Sanders (historical background)

– Geoff Gardner (planning considerations)

– Riki Therivel (strategic environmental issues)

Wednesday 18 July:

– Riki Therivel [if overrun]]

– Paul Garland/Peter Sanders (sustainability appraisal)

– Brian Ross (forecasts)

Thursday 19 July and Friday 20 July

– Martin Peachey [air and ground noise]

– Pat Elliott (air quality)  

– Ian Bruce (water)

– Suzanne Walker/John Drake (quality of life)

– Maggie Sutton (community cohesion)

Tuesday 24 July, Wednesday 25 July, Thursday 26 July

– Jangu Banatvala (health)

– Ken McDonald (housing impacts

– Brian Ross (economics, employment and housing)

Friday 27 July

– Roger Levett (climate change)

– Aqqaluk Lynge (climate change impacts)  

NOTE:   media opportunities between 25-27 July with Mr Lynge who is President
of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, Greenland will be advised separately to the
media.

NB Surface Access evidence is programmed for 5-7 days from 25 September but details
of timings and appearances are still to be confirmed.  

BACKGROUND TO THE PUBLIC INQUIRY

BAA is seeking unlimited passenger use of the airport’s single runway, currently
capped at 25 million passengers per annum, which could result in the eventual
doubling passenger throughput and an increase in the number of flights from 192,000
(latest 12 months total)   to 264,000 annually.   Permission for the application
was refused by Uttlesford District Council in November last year and the Public
Inquiry will hear BAA’s appeal against that decision.

 The opposition that Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) has mounted to BAA’s plans
represents the culmination of more than a year’s work by a dedicated team of volunteers
and external consultants, widely supported by the campaign’s 6700 members and
beyond. With the Inquiry set to last unti c19 October, evidence exposing the true
scale of environmental damage that would be caused by BAA’s proposals and their
negative impact upon the UK economy will be heard from scores of organisations
and individuals, from parish, district and town councils, conservation and community
groups to those fighting airport expansion elsewhere in the UK.

 As a principal participant in the Public Inquiry, SSE will present evidence
covering a range of issues from economics and employment, climate change and community
cohesion to noise and health, road and rail impacts, air quality, water and air
traffic forecasts.     This will form the basis of the presentations which will
be made between 17-27 July, and was the platform from which SSE’s barristers –
Paul Stinchcombe and Sarah Hannett of 4-5 Grays Inn Square – cross-examined BAA’s
witnesses earlier in proceedings.   Transcripts of most Inquiry sessions to date
appear online at http://www.stopstanstedexpansion.com/r1_public_inquiry.html.   The latest version of the Inquiry timetable (still subject to change) can
be accessed online at:     www.stopstanstedexpansion.com/documents/Stansted_Inquiry%20Programme_30%20April.doc.

Apart from the local planning authority Uttlesford District Council and Herts
and Essex County Councils, other key parties in the Inquiry giving evidence against
BAA’s proposals are the Stansted Airlines Consultative Committee, National Trust,
Friends of the Earth and Much Hadham Parish Council.

Following the Public Inquiry, the Inspector will submit his report and recommendation
to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Secretary of
State for Transport for decision and an announcement is expected in Spring 2008.

FURTHER INFORMATION

 Carol Barbone, Campaign Director, SSE:   M 0777 552 3091, cbarbone@mxc.co.uk

Stop Stansted Expansion Campaign Office:   T 01279 870558

www.stopstanstedexpansion.com (see especially the Public Inquiry page at http://www.stopstanstedexpansion.com/r1_public_inquiry.html)

 

Posted: Sunday, July 15th, 2007. Filed in News about Airports.