By JOHN GEOGHEGAN
- Campaigners start legal challenge
- They claim council process was ‘flawed’
A CAMPAIGNER is trying to take Southend Council to court over its decision to allow the extension of the airport runway.
A member of Stop Airport Extension Now group has applied for a judicial review at the High Court in London.
The legal challenge is against the council’s planning permission approval, allowing Southend Airport to extend its runway by 300m.
In English law, anyone who feels a Government authority has acted unlawfully can apply for a judicial review to overturn the decision.
Graham Whitehead, the group’s director, said: “We had no choice but to go to court.
“Both Southend and Rochford councils have shown total disregard for the interests of their residents and this should never [have] been approved by the development control committee.
“We believe the planning permission process was legaly flawed and we are confident the court will find in our favour.”
The airport’s planning application also involved the diversion of the nearby Eastwoodbury Lane, to allow for the runway extension, and the demolition of six houses.
In January, Southend Council’s development control committee approved the plan, but the then Secretary of State, John Denham, decided he needed to review the decision before giving the final go-ahead in March.
Since the decision to extend the runway, the campaign group has said it wanted to mount a legal challenge and has been appealing for donations on its website.
Denis Walker, the group’s spokesman, said the claimant is a local resident, but would not disclose their identity.
He said the claimant felt the council’s decision was flawed because it did not acknowledge the consultation on the planning application in which most respondents objected.
He also said the claimant would raise objections about the environmental assessment of the planning application, including the impact of night flights and pollution.
Mr Walker added: “The economic argument for extra jobs has never been substantiated and is uncertain at best.
“What is certain, however, is that there will be extra noise and pollution for an area alredy one of the most congested and densely populated in the UK.”
Southend Council’s corporate director of support services, Sally Holland, said: The council has been officially notified of an intention to lodge a judicial review into the decision regarding Southend Airport expansion.”
