Archive for January 19th, 2010

Demonstrators oppose runway extension at Southend Airport

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

PRESS RELEASE

For: 20th January 2010
Demonstrators oppose Southend Airport runway extension

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Demonstrators gather on the steps of Southend Civic Centre prior to the afternoon’s Development Control Committee meeting. This meeting will decide whether to approve a planning application to extend the runway at Southend Airport.

When: 10:30am, 20th January 2010
Venue: Southend Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea
Contact: Denis Walker, Press Officer, Stop Airport Extension Now – denis@saen.org.uk

At 2pm on 20th January, Southend Borough Council’s Development Control Committee will meet to decide whether to grant planning permission for a longer runway at London Southend Airport. Airport owners, Stobart, want the extension to enable growth of the airport to two million passengers per year.

However, on Monday, the Government Office for the East of England issued an Article 14 Direction to Southend Borough Council, requiring them to refer the application to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, John Denham MP. This Direction prevents the Council from issuing their decision on whether or not to grant planning permission until the Secretary of State has had the opportunity to consider whether the application is one that he should call in for his own determination.

“This is welcome news,” said Denis Walker, Press Officer for SAEN – the campaign group formed to oppose the lengthening of the runway at Southend Airport. “Ever since the planning application was submitted, we have been calling for a Public Inquiry to investigate it properly and this is the first step to getting one.”

“The planning application was submitted part way through the consultation process for a Joint Area Action Plan to determine the future of the airport and its environs. We argue that until this Action Plan is finalised, any decision to extend the runway is premature.”

ENDS.

Notes to Editors

“Stop Airport Extension Now” (SAEN) was formed to campaign against the runway extension at Southend Airport. The group is not opposed to the Airport itself, which has co-existed with the residents of Southend for many years. SAEN is against the runway extension, which would lead to a massive increase in flights and destroy the lives of the people living, working or going to school anywhere near the flightpath.

For further information:

  • Contact Denis Walker, Press Officer SAEN (Stop Airport Extension Now), denis@saen.org.uk
  • Visit the SAEN website – http://saen.org.uk/

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Southend Airport runway plan hits legal hurdle

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

Plans to extend Southend Airport runway in Essex have hit a legal hurdle which could delay the start of work.

The government has blocked Southend Borough Council granting planning permission without authorisation by the Secretary of State John Denham.

The development control committee is due to consider the plans on Wednesday.

If the scheme is approved the decision will be frozen and the plans will go before Mr Denham who could decide to call a public inquiry.

A borough council spokesman said: “The Secretary of State may then decide not to intervene and send the application back to the council to issue a decision notice.

“If the secretary of state decides to call in the application a public inquiry will be held.”

If the planning application is rejected by the borough council then a decision notice will be issued in the usual way.

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Southend Airport plan: Government intervenes

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

THE expansion of Southend Airport will not go ahead without the authorisation of a Government minister, it has been announced

Communities Secretary John Denham has issued an Article 14 Direction about the planning application to extend the runway at London Southend Airport.

The effect of the direction is to prevent Southend Council granting planning permission on the application without his authorisation.

The application will still be considered at Development Control Committee at 2pm tomorrow.

If the committee decides to approve the application this decision will be frozen until either:

The Secretary of State decides that he will not intervene and sends the application back to the council, in which case the decision notice will be issued
the Secretary of State decides to call-in the application for his determination, in which case there will be a Public Inquiry.

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