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As some will know, the result of the Public Inquiry into the closure of Eastwoodbury Lane was announced a great deal earlier than anyone anticipated, and as a result, Eastwoodbury Lane was stopped up on the 1st September. All traffic will now use the new road that has been constructed by the Stobart Company, with the budget topped up by Southend taxpayers in the sum of £2 million. The plans incorporated a footpath and cycleway on both sides of the new road. These have not been completed. The south side has an elevated pathway for both pedestrians and cyclists and the north side has an incomplete path, ending at the bus stop for the No 9 bus. This will mean that RBS bus users and pedestrians and cylists from the east of the airport will have to cross an extremely busy road without the benefit of a pedestrian crossing.
The footpath has been unofficially closed, apparently pre-empting the result of the Public Inquiry into its closure due to take place in November. An Eastwood Councillor, Ted Lewin, is attempting to find out why this has happened, and we are awaiting the outcome.
We have also contacted Government departments on the subject of the footpath, as well as officials at the Civic Centre.
St Laurence Church's front wall is to be demolished
What are we objecting to?
An extended runway and an increase in flights at Southend Airport would mean:
- A plane low over your house every 5 minutes at busy times
- 120 night flights a month
- A huge increase in noise and air pollution
- Even more of your taxes being spent on the airport
- Even more traffic on our congested roads
- Eastwoodbury Lane closed
- A number of people losing their homes
- The value of everyone else’s homes falling
- Very few new jobs being created
- A decline in the local economy
- Public Safety Zones appear not to be taken seriously
- An increase in harmful greenhouse gas emissions
“Whatever the airport says, we do. The airport says ‘jump,’ we say ‘how high?’ It’s all for the airport, nothing for the residents.”
We need justice for the people of the town. That’s why we are supporting a Judicial Review of the decision to grant planning permission for a runway extension in the High Court. More details are available in the press release from last July.
Legal action is not cheap, so please give what you can to the fighting fund either by sending a cheque or donating online (use the orange “Donate” button on the right).
The airport is pressing ahead with development it already has permission for (or doesn’t need permission for under permitted development rights), including a new station on the Southend to London Liverpool Street line and a new air traffic control tower, pictured right.
In March last year, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government at the time, John Denham MP, announced that he allowed Southend Borough Council’s decision to approve the application to extend the runway at Southend Airport without a Public Inquiry.
Hear Denis Walker’s reaction in a live interview on BBC Essex Drivetime.
In January 2010, the Development Control Committee voted 14 to 3 in favour of approving the planning application – Read more…
A week before the meeting, the Officers’ Report was published, recommending that Southend Council’s Development Control Committee approves the planning application. Have a read through SAEN’s objection to see why this recommendation is wrong.
