Dear Councillor
We wish to object in the strongest possible terms to the proposals to expand Southend Airport and extend the runway.
We would like to you respond to this letter, acknowledging that you have received this letter as an objection.
The reasons for our objections are as follows:
We believe that any expansion to the airport site will involve unnecessary alterations to various local amenities and living space, bringing unpleasant consequences to the people living in this town – in particular to those of us who live near the airport.
Unpleasant consequences caused by any expansion to the airport:
- Increase in air pollution from the increased air traffic.
- Increased volume of traffic on roads that are already very busy, particularly during the rush hour times.
- Research has shown that only 6% of people use public transport to travel to airports, so we do not believe that the installation of an additional railway station at the airport will be of any benefit in reducing the amount of increased traffic to and from the airport.
Other Objections:
- We particularly object to the proposed ‘closure’ or diversion of Eastwoodbury Lane as this affects us personally:
- Closure or diversion of this road will deprive us of easy access to St. Laurence’s Church that currently, is within walking distance. Closure or diversion of this road will make it difficult for us to attend religious services being offered at this church and will result in increased use of the car as we continue to travel to and from the church.
- Closure or diversion of this road will also prevent us using the current easy access route through to our friends and relatives who live in Rayleigh, Hockley etc.
- We also strongly object to the loss of playing fields and park recreational areas in Eastwoodbury Lane to accommodate the expansion of the runway and a car park to provide a park and ride scheme for the airport.
We fail to understand why, when the town is so full of traffic, our local park and playing fields have to be destroyed to create a ‘Park and Ride’ scheme for the sole purpose of enabling visitors to the town just to travel the airport.
On that note, why cannot the whole town have a park and ride scheme?
If the airport should close, the site of the airport could be used to provide sufficient space to allow for an effective park and ride scheme that would benefit the whole town.This would be better than just providing a park and ride scheme for people to use the airport, when these same people would not be spending any time (or money) in the town.
- The county of Essex already has a very big airport – Stansted. Anyone living beyond a ten mile radius outside of Southend finds that it is just as easy to travel to Stansted.
- People living in Southend also confirm that Stansted Airport is very easy for them to travel to.
- We do not believe that in the present financial climate that this is the right time to consider expanding an airport for passengers.
- But we do believe that the intention is to provide facilities to increase the amount of freight that can be flown in and we are aware that at the present time there are no restrictions on night flights carrying freight. We are also aware that older planes are used for transporting freight by air. These older planes are noisier than modern passenger jets, creating more noise and emitting unpleasant fuel emissions over the town.
If these proposals go ahead, it will certainly keep people from wanting to work or live within Southend. It is already very difficult trying to get in or out of Southend as well as trying to move around the town by car or bus, due to the amount of traffic at present; the expansion of the airport will exacerbate this situation.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. & Mrs. Shardlow
Tags: Southend Borough Council