Southampton Airport extended runway plans to be debated on 17th December
Plans to expand Southampton Airport runway will be considered by Eastleigh Council on 17th December. The airport wants to extend its runway by 164m (538ft) and extend the existing long stay car park to provide an additional 600 spaces. The proposals will be scrutinised at a special meeting of the Eastleigh Local Area Committee. The airport has recently submitted more details of the plans to the council. These include the possibility for the authority to propose a maximum noise cap on the airport. Local opposition group Airport Expansion Opposition (AXO) continue to campaign against the plans. As well as the carbon emissions, they fear that new government policy could mean that there would be no noise cap in the future. The airport claims the longer runway is necessary, to keep airport staff employed, as the longer runway would allow larger Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 planes, for holiday destinations in southern Europe. The airport hopes the extended runway could be ready by 2022. The public consultation will close on November 15. Nearby Winchester Council has said it is still likely to object to the plans, and the recently updated information do not overcome their concerns about the noise impact.
.
Tweet
Southampton Airport runway plans to be discussed in December
By Maria Zaccaro @MariaDailyEchoLocal Democracy Reporter (Southampton Daily Echo)
5th November 2020
CONTROVERSIAL plans to expand Southampton Airport runway will be discussed in December.
After months of consultation and controversy, plans to expand the runway by 164m (538ft) will be considered on December 17.
The plans are also for the extension of the existing long stay car park to the east and west of Mitchell Way to provide an additional 600 spaces.
The proposals will be scrutinised at a special meeting of the Eastleigh Local Area Committee.
The event will be held online using Microsoft Teams but further details are yet to be revealed.
In a statement Eastleigh Borough Council said: “A committee date to consider the planning application has been set for 17 December 2020. The public can view and participate in the meeting through either, making representation in person to the committee or having their statement read out by a member of staff.”
The news comes as airport bosses recently submitted more details to the borough council.
These include the possibility for the authority to propose a maximum noise cap on the airport.
Airport managers said the noise mitigation measures exceed industry standards.
But as reported, campaigners said there is no justification for the plans to go ahead.
Yesterday, members of action group Airport Expansion Opposition (AXO) campaigned in the centre of Eastleigh to voice their views on the proposals.
They fear that new government policy could mean that there would be no noise cap in the future.
The group had previously said they believe that the mitigation measures proposed are “inadequate”.
But airport bosses had hit back saying the plans would provide “a positive control over noise that does not currently exist and which is above and beyond industry standards”.
The plans sparked a heated debate among residents and councillors, with councils in Southampton and Winchester objecting to the scheme.
Airport bosses warned that the future of Southampton Airport and thousands of jobs will be hanging in the balance if the plans are refused.
The airport wants the existing runway extended to allow the use of planes such as the Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 – needed to reach holiday destinations in southern Europe.
Last month airport managing director Steve Szalay said if the plans were approved the airport would be able to welcome new airlines by 2022.
The number of passengers using the airport dropped by 89% this year, which Mr Szalay said was mainly down to the collapse of Flybe in March.
A public consultation on the scheme is ongoing and will close on November 15.
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/18850166.southampton-airport-runway-plans-discussed-december/
.
See also:
Winchester City Council on Southampton Airport expansion
By Sam Hatherley @HatherleySam (Daily Echo)
9th November 2020
WINCHESTER City Council is still likely to object against the expansion of Southampton Airport – despite the application being updated recently.
An environmental statement has been added to the plans, which details the tests that will need to be completed before work begins.
Civic chiefs are still revising this information – but are unlikely to chance their stance.
Cllr Jackie Porter said: “A provisional assessment has been undertaken by our Environmental Protection Officers and the advice is that the updates do not overcome original concerns with the proposals in relation to noise impact.
“I do not therefore envisage that the City Council will withdraw its objection to the proposed development on carbon and noise grounds but a formal response to Eastleigh Borough Council will be made by November 20.”
The plans are to construct a 164-metre runway extension at the northern end of the existing runway.
Cllr Porter added: “Our officers are currently assessing this additional information. As an adjoining local authority the council was originally consulted on the planning application to extend the runway and objected to the development on January 22 on the grounds that the development would increase carbon emissions and have harmful noise impacts on the residents of Winchester.
“The economic benefits of the application did not outweigh the harm caused.”
Proposals are set to go before an Eastleigh Borough Council committee on December 17.
“The updated information is centred around noise and providing an alternative scenario relating to the use of the airport based on approximately three million passengers per annum and the data that sits behind this.
“This information wasn’t the subject of an EIA Regulation 25 request made by Eastleigh Borough Council.
“It has however been the subject of discussion between the airport and Eastleigh and is a response to the different circumstances that the airport now faces in light of Covid and the demise of Flybe.”
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/18856684.winchester-city-council-southampton-airport-expansion/
.
.
.