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For up-to-date information on the campaigns it represents please visit:

No Airport Expansion! is a campaign group that aims to provide a rallying point for the many local groups campaigning against airport expansion projects throughout the UK.

Visit No Airport Expansion! website

Local referendum on whether to move Nantes-Atlantique airport to Notre-Dame-des-Landes – 26th June

On 26th June there will be a consultation/referendum on the issue of whether the existing airport, Nantes-Atlantique, just south of Nantes should be moved to a site north of the town at Notre-Dame-des- Landes (NDDL). The government announced this referendum back in March.The question that will be asked is: “Do you support the proposed transfer of Nantes-Atlantique airport to the municipality of Notre-Dame-des-Landes?” The referendum is open to voters of the municipalities of Loire-Atlantique. Opponents are running an active campaign, to provide information to every potential voter and attending public meetings, with their spirit of quiet determination. Opponents, including local campaign ACIPA, say nobody asked for this referendum, and it does not in any way legitimize the airport project at NDDL, which they consider to be illegal, ruinous and destructive. They say the conditions for real democratic debate are not met; the area chosen for the  referendum excludes some important local communities; the question is biased; and there is no guarantee of fair treatment of the opposition. They are not impressed that the Prime Minister has announced the start of work in the autumn, despite the referendum. They say the airport cannot proceed until various legal matters have been sorted out. There will be another huge anti-NDDL gathering on 9th and 10th July.  “On a tous une bonne raison de voter NON.”   (We all have a reason to vote NO.)  
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Transfer from the airport in Notre-Dame-des-Landes: the consultation will be held on June 26

3.5.2016  (Nantes.fr)

The decree establishing the conditions for holding the consultation on the proposed transfer of Nantes Atlantique airport at Notre-Dame-des-Landes was published in the Official Journal.

By decree published in the Official Journal of 24 April 2016, we now know the framework within which will be organized for consultations with electors to project transfer from Nantes Atlantique airport at Notre-Dame-des-Landes.

Who can participate?

It is the voters of the municipalities of Loire-Atlantique on the electoral lists arrested February 29, 2016 that will participate in the consultation. Young citizens who reach the age (18) between 1 March and 25 June inclusive can register until Thursday, June 16 inclusive. And thus participate in the consultation.

Can also register on the electoral lists, all French and Europeans who moved to Nantes for a business reason after 1 January 2016 (this measure applying also to their spouses and family members living with them) and Nantais who became French after this date. They will of course present proof: proving that each professional reasons (employment certificate, business creation certificate, etc.), others or naturalization decree published in the Official Journal, the documents to be subsequent to January 1, 2016. They must be submitted by 16 June next deadline. A new voter card will reach them a few days before the consultation.

When Will the consultation work?

It is Sunday, June 26 the Loire-Atlantique voters are called to vote. Nantes, hours of voting will be announced in the coming weeks.

What is the question?

The consultation will focus on the question “Do you support the proposed transfer of Nantes-Atlantique airport in the municipality of Notre-Dame-des-Landes? “

How to learn about this consultation?

The National Public Debate Commission will prepare an information pack on the project, which will include a synopsis of the project: patterns, characteristics, status of procedures, environmental impacts, etc. It will also include links to websites or other documents to inform voters that have been posted online.

This file will be available at the latest 15 days before the consultation on the website of the commission (https://www.debatpublic.fr open link in new window ). In addition, the prefecture will send by mail voters a newsletter on the organization of the consultation along with two ballots, no later than June 9, 2016.

Original in French at  

http://www.nantes.fr/home/actualites/ville-de-nantes/administration/2016/consultation-aeroport.html

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There are a lot of documents, in French, about various aspects of the airport transfer, from local campaigners against the proposed new airport at Notre-dame-des-Landes:

Cliquez sur le titre des rubriques pour en lire le détail ou téléchargez le pdf.

Fiche 00 : Un projet d’un autre âge : résumé des arguments ici en PDF
Fiche 01 : Capacité de Nantes-Atlantique ici en PDF
Fiche 02 : Personnes survolées ici en PDF
Fiche 03 : Bruit ici en PDF
Fiche 04 : Evolution du trafic à Nantes Atlantique ici en PDF
Fiche 05 : Compagnies Low Cost ici en PDF
Fiche 06 : Coûts et Financement ici en PDF
Fiche 07 : Historique du projet et de la lutte ici en PDF
Fiche 08 : Les questions d’urbanisme ici en PDF
Fiche 09 : Analyse Coûts – Bénéfices / La rentabilité… ici en PDF
Fiche 10 : Lutte des paysans ici en PDF
Fiche 11 : Agriculture – emprise/ activité/emplois ici en PDF
Fiche 12 : La question des emplois ici en PDF
Fiche 13 : Qualité environnementale de la zone ici en PDF
Fiche 14 : Loi sur l’Eau ici en PDF
Fiche 15 : La situation juridique ici en PDF
Fiche 16 : Les commissions mises en place par le Gouvernement ici en PDF
Fiche 17 : Les grands projets inutiles et imposés (GPII) ici en PDF
Fiche 18 : Avion et climat ici en PDF
Fiche 19 : Situation géographique ici en PDF
Fiche 20 : Comparaison NA / NDL ici en PDF
Fiche 21 : L’optimisation de Nantes Atlantique ici en PDF
Fiche 22 : Expertise des naturalistes en lutte ici en PDF
Fiche 23 : La démocratie en question ici en PDF

Feuilletez le livret argumentaire complet ici en PDF.

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English translations of some videos explaining arguments against a new Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport

The local opposition around Nantes, to the building a new airport north of Nantes, have produced a series of short videos, setting out some of the issues. There will be a referendum on 26th June, for people in the area, on whether the existing airport, Nantes-Atlantique, should be closed and a new airport constructed at Notre Dame des Landes (NDDL). The opponents of the NDDL airport say, among other things: – The number of flights at Nantes has hardly grown in 10 years. – It is possible to slightly grow the current Nantes-Atlantique airport (just south of Nantes) and slightly extend the runway by 60 metres. – It is possible to take measures to slightly reduce the noise at the Nantes-Atlantique airport. – The new NDDL airpot would cost the taxpayer about €280 million. – There would be no more destinations from the new NDDL airport than from the Nantes-Atlantique airport. Germany has 45 airports, and France has 156 airports. – The NDDL airport would mean the destruction of 700 hectares of wetland and about 900 hectares of farmland. – Many protected species would be lost. – About 200 agriculture-associated jobs would be lost, and most of the alleged new jobs would just move from the old airport. – The costs to passengers will be higher at the NDDL airport. And there is a lot more. With English translations here.

Click here to view full story…

Consultation du 26 juin 2016 en Loire Atlantique : On a tous une bonne raison de voter NON !

13.5.2016 (ACIPA)

Document setting out, in French, the main reasons to oppose the new airport at  http://www.consultationnddl.fr/images/content/tracts-affiches/Consultation-NDDL_Tract-PourQuoiFaire.jpg

ACIPA

Consultation of 26 June 2016 Loire Atlantique: We all have a reason to vote NO!

13.5.2016 (ACIPA – the local opposition campaign)

(Imperfect translation into English below)

Coordination opponents (more than 50 groups – associations, collectives, unions and political movements) decided after discussion at its extraordinary meeting of 31 March 2016, to denounce loudly the masquerade that is the consultation but also to call citizens to vote massively NO to not leave the field open to backers of the project.

Coordination has always been able to adapt and react to different turpitudes (inaccuracies, half truths?) of this issue, both on the grounds of the legal and political aspects. Strong protests in January and February 2016 around Nantes have shown the determination and cohesion of the whole movement.

Coordination has decided to run a very active campaign in the field, to inform the public about the real issues in this project: 24 public meetings throughout the department 44 are provided for this purpose. All the activists of the department and those of peripheral departments are already mobilized to distribute 200,000 information leaflets, for which they themselves provided the financing. They also seek to discuss directly with the population as much as possible.
Other actions will punctuate the 5-week campaign, in a spirit of quiet determination.

But the Coalition wishes to reiterate that this citizen consultation, which we did not ask for, will not in any way legitimize a completely illegal airport project at Notre-Dame-des-Landes, that is ruinous and destructive.

Coordination recalls that:

  • the conditions for a real democratic debate are not met;
  • the selected perimeter eliminates the vote of the citizens of local communities directly concerned by financing;
  • the question is biased;
  • no guarantee of fair treatment of the parties concerned has been made.

We are in a travesty of democracy. This theme of Democracy is also the central purpose of the gathering of July 9 and 10: NDL 2016 “Seeds of Democracy”. As in previous years, it will be a highlight of our struggle, after the intense mobilization of weeks that have preceded it.

The consultation scheduled for 26 June was just another step in our long struggle for the final judgment of this project.
We all have a reason to vote NO!

Discover our dedicated website consultation


Original text in French:

La Coordination des opposants (plus de 50 groupes – associations, collectifs, syndicats et mouvements politiques) a décidé, après discussion lors de sa réunion exceptionnelle du 31 mars 2016, de dénoncer haut et fort la mascarade que représente cette consultation mais d’appeler aussi les citoyens à aller voter massivement NON pour ne pas laisser le champ libre aux porteurs du projet.

La Coordination a toujours su s’adapter et réagir aux différentes turpitudes de ce dossier, aussi bien sur le terrain que sur les volets juridique et politique. Les fortes mobilisations de janvier et février 2016 autour de Nantes ont démontré la détermination et la cohésion de l’ensemble du mouvement.

La Coordination a décidé de faire une campagne très active sur le terrain, pour informer le public sur les véritables enjeux liés à ce projet : 24 réunions publiques dans tout le département du 44 sont prévues à cet effet. L’ensemble des militants du département et ceux des départements périphériques sont déjà mobilisés pour distribuer 200 000 tracts d’information, dont ils assurent eux-mêmes le financement. Ils s’emploieront aussi à discuter directement avec la population le plus souvent possible.
D’autres actions ponctueront les 5 semaines de campagne, toujours dans un esprit de sereine détermination.

Mais la Coordination tient à réaffirmer que cette consultation citoyenne, que nous n’avons pas demandée, ne saurait en aucun cas légitimer un projet d’aéroport parfaitement illégal à Notre-Dame-des-Landes, ruineux et destructeur.

La Coordination rappelle que :

  • les conditions d’un réel débat démocratique ne sont pas réunies ;
  • le périmètre choisi élimine du vote des citoyens de collectivités territoriales directement concernées par le financement ;
  • la question est biaisée ;
  • aucune garantie de traitement équitable des parties en présence n’a été apportée.

Nous sommes dans un simulacre de démocratie. Ce thème de la Démocratie sera d’ailleurs l’objet central du rassemblement des 9 et 10 juillet : NDL 2016 “Semailles de Démocratie”. Comme les années précédentes, il sera un temps fort de notre lutte, après les semaines de mobilisation intense qui l’auront précédé.

La consultation prévue le 26 juin n’est qu’une étape supplémentaire dans notre long combat pour l’arrêt définitif de ce projet.
On a tous une bonne raison de voter NON !

Découvrez notre site internet dédié consultation

https://www.acipa-ndl.fr/actualites/communiques-de-presse/item/660-consultation-du-26-juin-2016


NDDL. Consultation of 26 June: where and how to vote in Nantes

10.5.2016  (Ouest-France)

On Sunday, June 26, voters in Loire-Atlantique towns will be consulted on the Nantes-Atlantique airport transfer project.

Consultation

Each of the participants in the consultation will have to answer yes or no to the question “Are you in favour of the transfer project of Nantes-Atlantique airport to the municipality of Notre-Dame-des-Landes? ”

Where to Vote

In Nantes, 200 polling stations in 48 schools will be mobilized to collect votes. You can check the address of the polling station on the site www.nantes.fr

Registration open until Friday, May 20.

Dossier

The national public debate commission will prepare an information pack on the project. It will be available on the website www.debatpublic.fr The prefecture will send, by June 9, 2016, to each voter, a newsletter on the organization of the consultation along with two ballots.

[The consultation website says: BACKGROUND

“The current Nantes-Atlantique airport is experiencing a dramatic increase in traffic. Its infrastructures are no longer capable of hosting such forward traffic in terms of comfort and services expected by its users. It is therefore not the construction of a second airport, but a transfer of the business of the existing airport to the future Grand Ouest Airport.” ]

Original with lots of detail on who can vote etc in French at

http://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/nantes-44000/nddl-consultation-du-26-juin-ou-et-comment-voter-nantes-4218487

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Position de l’ACIPA sur la “consultation”

22.4.2016 (ACIPA)

Imperfect translation into English below.

he ACIPA must adapt to events, as always …

After the word “referendum” is that of “consultation” that we used. It was announced after the 2003 public debate, the public inquiry in 2006, the Public Utility Declaration of 2008, judgments Water Act and Species protected still appeal the judgments expropriation and expulsion of 2015 and 2016, this to cover a state lying on the back of Notre Dame des Landes for which he should be punished.

We have many asked about the temporality of schedule compared to the progress of the project of Notre Dame des Landes, the scope of the consultation, the drafting of the question, the means of communication during the campaign and its control, the joint with legal recourse (french and European) still under investigation or legality as claimed by our opponents …

The ACIPA never boycotted the democratic debate, which is nourished and carries, with CEDPA, proposals for a “Modernization of Participatory Democracy”.

The government, through the voice of the Prime Minister, announced the start of work in the autumn! [regardless of the result of the referendum] He anticipates, thus, the use he will make the result of this eventual consultation. He ignored the questioning of the European Commission, which stipulates that no work should happen until there is a satisfactory response on the part of France, on the implementation of environmental compensation measures. These need to be mentioned in the SCOT Nantes-Saint Nazaire planning documents currently being revised and on which the public inquiry will take place during summer 2016. This document will not be definitively signed by the Prefect before mid-January 2017. We are not fooled by replies that the public inquiry could result in unachievable compensation and we know that the state is trying to find a loophole in the face of questions from Europe.
We know the results of the consultation will only represent a opinion without legal basis. However, ACIPA will be campaigning alongside other voluntary organizations to share all the media available to us. We never asked for this consultation, the government impose it so we take this forum to inform the public about the real issues related to this project as we have done at every consultation, at the request of our many members.

Given the position of Prime Minister, nothing obliges us to consider the outcome of this illegal consultation, which will be only an opinion among many, but we must do everything so that people can vote with full knowledge of because if ever this consultation was to go to completion. Therefore, the ACIPA continue the fight, including legal on the merits of the case and ongoing information to the citizens, to respect the planet and future generations in the spirit carried by the COP 21. It will also denounce the imbalance means that the pro-airport might be tempted to implement without daring contradictory public debate.

The ACIPA continue to oppose the evictions of the inhabitants of the area defined in the DUP and demands that the President of the Republic honors its local commitments: “no work or expulsion, as legal avenues are not all exhausted. ”

For ACIPA, this possible citizen referendum can in no wayjustify a proposed illegal airport at Notre Dame des Landes.

This consultation will, in any case for us, one step in the long struggle for the permanent cessation of the project.

The ACIPA continue to oppose the evictions of the inhabitants of the area defined in the DUP and demands that the President of the Republic honors its local commitments: “no work or expulsion, as legal avenues are not all exhausted. ”

 

For ACIPA, this possible citizen consultation can in no case justify a proposed airport in Notre Dame des Landes is illegal.

This consultation will, in any case for us, one step in the long struggle for the permanent cessation of the project. 

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The original French: 

L’ACIPA doit s’adapter aux évènements, comme toujours…

Après le mot “référendum” c’est celui de “consultation” qu’on nous sert. Il est annoncé après le débat public de 2003, l’enquête publique de 2006, la Déclaration d’Utilité Publique de 2008, les jugements Loi sur Eau et Espèces protégées toujours en appel, les jugements en expropriation et en expulsion de 2015 et 2016, ceci pour couvrir un mensonge d’État sur le dossier de Notre Dame des Landes pour lequel il devrait être sanctionné.

Nous avons beaucoup questionné sur la temporalité du calendrier par rapport à l’avancée du projet de Notre Dame des Landes, le périmètre de la consultation, la rédaction de la question posée, les moyens de la communication pendant la campagne et son contrôle, l’articulation avec les recours juridiques (français et européens) toujours en cours d’instruction ou la légalité tant réclamée par nos adversaires,…

L’ACIPA n’a jamais boycotté le débat démocratique, elle s’en nourrit et porte, avec le CéDpa, des propositions pour une ” Modernisation de la Démocratie Participative”.

Le gouvernement, par la voix du Premier ministre, annonce le début des travaux à l’automne ! Il anticipe, par là même, toute utilisation qu’il fera du résultat de cette éventuelle consultation. Il fait fi de l’interpellation de la Commission Européenne qui stipule qu’il n’y ait pas de travaux avant une réponse satisfaisante, de la part de la France, sur la mise en place des mesures de compensations environnementales. Celles-ci doivent être mentionnées dans les documents d’urbanisme du SCOT Nantes-Saint Nazaire actuellement en révision et dont l’enquête publique se déroulera au cours de l’été 2016. Ce document ne sera pas définitivement signé par le Préfet avant la mi-Janvier 2017. Nous ne sommes par dupes des réponses que l’enquête publique pourrait amener en matière de compensations irréalisables et nous savons que l’État tente de trouver une échappatoire face aux questions de l’Europe.

Nous savons que les résultats de la consultation ne représenteront qu’un avis sans fondement juridique. Cependant, l’ACIPA se devra de faire campagne aux côtés des autres organisations volontaires pour mettre en commun tous les moyens d’information à notre disposition. Nous n’avons jamais demandé cette consultation, le gouvernement nous l’impose alors profitons de cette tribune pour informer le public sur les vrais enjeux liés à ce projet comme nous l’avons fait à chaque consultation à la demande de nos nombreux adhérents.

Au vu de la position du Premier ministre, rien ne nous oblige à tenir compte du résultat de cette consultation illégale, qui ne sera qu’un avis parmi d’autres, mais nous devons tout faire pour que la population puisse voter en toute connaissance de cause, si jamais cette consultation devait aller à son terme. C’est pourquoi, l’ACIPA continue le combat, notamment juridique sur le fond du dossier, ainsi que l’information continue en direction des citoyens, pour le respect de la planète et des générations futures dans l’esprit porté par la COP 21. Elle saura aussi dénoncer le déséquilibre de moyens que les pro-aéroport seraient tentés de mettre en oeuvre sans oser le débat public contradictoire.

L’ACIPA  continuera de s’opposer aux expulsions des habitants de la zone définie dans la DUP et exige que le Président de la République honore ses engagements locaux : “pas de travaux ni d’expulsion, tant que les recours juridiques ne sont pas tous épuisés”.

 

Pour l’ACIPA, cette éventuelle consultation citoyenne ne peut en aucun cas légitimer un projet d’aéroport à Notre Dame des Landes qui est illégal.

Cette consultation ne sera, dans tous les cas pour nous, qu’une étape dans le long combat pour l’arrêt définitif du projet. 

https://www.acipa-ndl.fr/actualites/communiques-de-presse/item/650-position-de-l-acipa-sur-la-consultation


Earlier:

Public referendum on Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport likely to be in June, and only for Loire-Atlantique département

Manuel Valls, Prime Minister of France, confirmed this week that the referendum on whether the new Nantes airport should go ahead, will only for the voters in the département of Loire-Atlantique. It would also be before the summer, in June. Two key issues about the referendum have been key: the date and the area covered. Keeping it only to Loire-Atlantique suits the government, backing the new airport plan, as it is believed there is more support for the airport there. One poll showed 51% support for the plan, 39% against and 10% undecided. Another poll showed 58% opposition across France as a whole. Opponents of the plan, and others involved, believe areas other than just Loire-Atlantique should be consulted, as they would be affected by environmental, economic and social impacts of the possible airport. The leaders of neighbouring departments such as Mayenne, Morbihan and the Maine-et-Loire have recently criticised the prospect of the consultation’s scope being limited to only the Loire-Atlantique. The Minister of Ecology, Ségolène Royal, defended the idea of the area being extended to the whole of the region Pays de la Loire. The government wants the poll early, so building work and evictions from the ZAD can be started by October. Work needs to start by then as there is a “declaration of public utility” lasting till October. It is likely that the referendum will be either on Sunday 19th or Sunday 26th June.

Click here to view full story…