Leeds Bradford airport public inquiry to start 13th September – GALBA crowdfunding for £100,000 for the fight
On 19th January 2022, Michael Gove (Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) granted GALBA’s request to hold a public inquiry into Leeds Bradford airport’s expansion plans. It will start on 13th September 2022. GALBA has gone into full-on preparation mode for fundraising. They hope to raise £100,000 through a crowdfunder, to pay for legal advice and experts to give evidence to the public inquiry. The planning inspectors will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State whether or not to allow the airport to expand. GALBA has described the public inquiry into LBA’s expansion plans as a ‘real life David vs Goliath battle’. Chris Foren, chair of GALBA, said: “The airport is owned by an Australian based multinational corporation which can literally spend millions on lawyers if it wants to. GALBA is just a group of concerned citizens – no one is paid, everyone involved does it because they care deeply about our communities and our climate. So it will be a real life David vs Goliath battle at the inquiry. … the future of our planet depends on struggles like this – people power really can make a difference! If we all work together, we can build a better future for our children and grandchildren.”
GALBA fundraising – https://www.galba.uk/
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“David vs Goliath” battle against expansion at Leeds Bradford Airport
By Annette McIntyre (Wharfedale Observer)
7th February 2022
CAMPAIGNERS against Leeds Bradford Airport expansion are preparing for a “David vs Goliath” battle at a public inquiry by launching a crowdfunder appeal
The Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport is asking for donations to help pay for legal advice and experts to give evidence to the public inquiry later this year. GALBA says it needs to raise £100,000 as soon as possible.
In January Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, granted a request to hold a public inquiry into LBA’s controversial plans. The inquiry will begin in Leeds on September 13. Evidence will be presented to planning inspectors, who will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State whether or not to allow the plans to go ahead.
Chris Foren, chair of GALBA, said: “The airport is owned by an Australian based multinational corporation which can literally spend millions on lawyers if it wants to. GALBA is just a group of concerned citizens – no one is paid, everyone involved does it because they care deeply about our communities and our climate. So it will be a real life David vs Goliath battle at the inquiry. That’s why we’ve launched a crowdfunder on our website – galba.uk – to raise funds for our legal and other costs.”
He added: “We are absolutely determined and we know thousands of people support our campaign. We also know that the future of our planet depends on struggles like this – people power really can make a difference. If we all work together, we can build a better future for our children and grandchildren.”
LBA’s planning application for a new £150 million terminal was approved by Leeds City Council in March 2021.
After the announcement that a public enquiry would be held Vincent Hodder, CEO of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “While we are disappointed to see this decision taken after 10 months of deliberation, we remain convinced in the economic, environmental and customer service cases for our replacement terminal. Our proposals are robust and we are committed to being an outstanding airport for passengers. We hope this decision does not signal a lost opportunity to level up the North of England. The plans not only comply with national and regional legislation, but also present a faster way for us to meet our Net Zero Strategy and a welcome boost for the UK tourism industry to bounce back from the Pandemic.”
Campaigners against Leeds Bradford Airport expansion prepare for ‘David vs Goliath’ battle at public inquiry by launching crowdfunder appeal
8th February 2022
GALBA
The Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) has described the public inquiry into LBA’s expansion plans as a ‘real life David vs Goliath battle’. Today, they launched a crowdfunding appeal on their website. All donations will help pay for legal advice and experts to give evidence to the public inquiry later this year. GALBA says it needs to raise £100,000 as soon as possible.
On 19 January 2022, Michael Gove (secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) granted GALBA’s request to hold a public inquiry into LBA’s controversial expansion plans. The inquiry will be held in Leeds and will begin on 13 September. LBA, GALBA and others with an interest in the decision will present evidence to planning inspectors, who will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State whether or not to allow the airport to expand.
Chris Foren, chair of GALBA, said: “The airport is owned by an Australian based multinational corporation which can literally spend millions on lawyers if it wants to. GALBA is just a group of concerned citizens – no one is paid, everyone involved does it because they care deeply about our communities and our climate. So it will be a real life David vs Goliath battle at the inquiry. That’s why we’ve launched a crowdfunder on our website – galba.uk – to raise funds for our legal and other costs.”
He added: “We are absolutely determined and we know thousands of people support our campaign. We also know that the future of our planet depends on struggles like this – people power really can make a difference! If we all work together, we can build a better future for our children and grandchildren.”
Notes for editors
Expert policy advice: Lord Deben, chair of the Climate Change Committee (CCC) said last year, “There is not any space for airport expansion” if the UK is to meet its climate goals. The CCC’s policy recommendation is for “no net expansion of UK airport capacity unless the sector is on track to sufficiently outperform its net emissions trajectory and can accommodate the additional demand”. That test has not been met and will not be met for many years to come.
Public Inquiry into LBA expansion: the decision to ‘call in’ LBA’s planning application and hold a public inquiry was announced by Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, on 19 January and will commence on 13 September.
Climate science and LBA expansion: the Leeds Climate Commission and experts in climate science from the University of Leeds have calculated that LBA’s proposals mean greenhouse gas emissions from the airport would exceed the amount allowed for the whole of Leeds, as set out in the Leeds Carbon Reduction Roadmap, from 2026 onwards. See the report here.
Leeds Bradford Airport development plans at last to go to public inquiry – date unknown
Leeds Bradford airport Leeds Bradford submitted plans for new terminal building & more passengers (4m to 7m a year) in May 2020. There has been intense opposition to the plan, led by local opposition group, GALBA. In March 2021 the terminal plan was approved by Leeds City Council, but in April 2021 the government issued a direction to the Council, preventing councillors from granting the planning permission without special authorisation. There have been numerous requests for the application to be called in. Now it has been announced by the DLUHC – headed by Michael Gove – that the application will indeed go to a public inquiry – though the date is not yet decided. It is a triumph for the persistent pressure by opponents, managing to achieve this significant delay. The inquiry means the arguments against the expansion will be properly and fully heard. Some of the matters that Mr Gove “particularly wishes to be informed about” included the extent to which the proposed development is consistent with government policies for “protecting green belt land” and “meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and coastal change”. Airport expansion can only increase carbon emissions.
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