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/
Tags: Development Control Committee, GO East, SAEN
i have been campaigning about the airport for myself and the peolple who live in this area for over a year, as we live directly under the incoming flight path and are going to be very affected by the noise levels. the original proposals said “no night flights” etc but i now find that all has been approved with no restrition on night flights,noise levels etc. I have written to both councils, the planning committee, the secretary of state etc. but have had very little in the way of replies or information. I am not sure what your positionis at the moment. I understand that the new council after the election have got to try acd negotiate a new lease with the new owner and want to agree nos. of flights, noise levels etc. but from what i can learn these nos are stll very high. is this something yoyr organisation is concerned about and is interestedin and could be of any help to us to try to improve the potential severity of our situation. i can show you all my correspondence if necessary. it would be good to hear from you. j.plaister