Stansted Airport runway public inquiry delayed again
Date added: 18 June, 2009
17.6.2009 (Independent)
By Margaret Davis, Press Association
A public inquiry into whether a second runway should be built at Stansted Airport
was today delayed for a second time, the Communities and Local Government Secretary
revealed.
In a letter to all parties John Denham said it was not yet “feasible nor realistic”
to draw up a timetable for the probe.
This was because the future ownership of the airport remains in question.
The Competition Commission ordered BAA to sell Stansted in order to break up
its monopoly but the airport operator has appealed.
Mr Denham wrote: “It is clear to me that it is neither feasible nor realistic
to announce the start date for the Stansted G2 public inquiry until such time
as the outcome of the appeal is known. Whilst there is no set timetable for the
appeal process, I understand that it might take around nine months to complete.”
The probe had already been postponed once by his predecessor Hazel Blears over
the same issue.
Nick Barton, Stansted Airport’s commercial and development director, said: “This
announcement does not alter the fact that new runway capacity is urgently required
if the United Kingdom is to preserve its global economic competitiveness, and
the case for a second runway at Stansted remains a strong one.”
He said the operator would continue with its voluntary compensation scheme for
affected homeowners.
BAA says the expansion would create thousands of jobs and give greater choice
to passengers, while campaigners maintain it would decimate their quality of life.
see also
Times 18.6.2009
Stansted runway inquiry likely to be delayed until after election
by Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent
The public inquiry into a second runway at Stansted is to be delayed by at least
nine months, increasing the chances that the project will eventually be scrapped.
John Denham, the Communities Secretary, said the start of the inquiry would be
delayed until after the outcome of BAA’s appeal against the Competition Commission
ruling that it should sell Stansted, Gatwick and a Scottish airport. The ruling
is expected in February 2010 but if BAA loses it could appeal to the House of
Lords.
This means an inquiry is unlikely to start before the next general election.
BAA had originally hoped to open the Stansted runway in 2012 but the earliest
possible opening date has slipped to 2017.
The Conservatives have ruled out new runways at Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted
but hinted that they might allow Luton to be expanded.
Nick Barton, Stansted’s development director, said that Mr Denham’s announcement
"does not alter the fact that new runway capacity is urgently required if the
United Kingdom is to preserve its global economic competitiveness, and the case
for a second runway at Stansted remains a strong one".
Lord Hanningfield, leader of Essex County Council, which opposes the second runway,
said: "This is another nail in the coffin for the Government’s ill-conceived plans
to force unsustainable and unneeded aviation expansion on the British people.
"A public inquiry will now not take place until after the general election, and
with the Conservatives committed to opposing the second runway this is effectively
the death-knell for BAA’s unwanted plans.
"The chances of a second runway at Stansted may be effectively over but we would
ask the new minister to take the brave step of admitting it."
This was BAA’s response:
Stansted Airport response to G2 public inquiry update
18 June 2009
“We note the Secretary of State’s decision to delay the start of Stansted G2
public inquiry, and will proceed as and when the Government decides that it is
right to do so. This announcement does not alter the fact that new runway capacity
is urgently required if the United Kingdom is to preserve its global economic
competitiveness, and the case for a second runway at Stansted remains a strong
one.
"In the interests of local people, we intend to keep our home owner support scheme
(HOSS) open and continue to promote our special cases scheme, which gives consideration
to those outside the boundary of HOSS, who might have exceptional reasons for
moving early.”
see also the response from Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE):
COMMENT ON GOVERNMENT DECISION TO DELAY ANNOUNCEMENT
OF START DATE FOR SECOND RUNWAY INQUIRY
Communities Secretary John Denham has said in a letter that he will not be announcing the start date of the Stansted second runway
Public Inquiry until the outcome of BAA’s appeal against the sale of Stansted
is known.
Commenting on the news Carol Barbone, Campaign Director, Stop Stansted Expansion
said: “This planning application isn’t going anywhere. The Government and BAA
need to face up to that reality and end the blight and uncertainty which has dogged
this community for so long.”
Posted: Thursday, June 18th, 2009. Filed in News about Airports.
