SOUTHEND Council, the airport and campaigners against the airport expansion are still waiting to see whether the High Court are going to order a judicial review into the expansion plans.

It is now some months since [a member of] the campaigning group, SAEN – Stop Airport Expansion [Extension] Now – applied for a judicial review and although the council were given to understand at the end of November that a decision was imminent all those involved in the project were still waiting for a decision as 2010 ended.

Southend Council are convinced that they did all they could in the processing of the planning application for the extension of the runway, but campaigners believe they have a case for a judicial review.

Time, though, is now running out if the airport expansion plan is to be ready in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Even if the High Court says there is no justification for a judicial review – which could delay the extension [of the] runway for months – there is still a major hurdle for the council and airport to overcome.

The Conservative administration on Southend Council says there will be a debate on the airport opening hours, with restrictions on night flying operations.

Stobart’s, operators of the airport, have agreed certain restrictions already, but nobody knows how they would react if more severe restrictions were demanded.

Southend Coun Anna Waite recently expressed some of the frustrations being felt by councillors and the airport, over the current delay caused by the judicial review application.

Shortly before Christmas, she warned that Stobart’s could abandon plans for expansion if the delay goes on much longer.

Coun Mrs Waite, who is a member of the Southend Cabinet, has been quoted as saying: “The campaign group, SAEN, is causing more damage to Southend than many realise. Sooner or later, Stobart will take the decision to abandon, at least in the short term, the runway extension, and to use what it can to get on with running the airport.

“Ironically, it is the residents under the flight path that we have sought to protect via the planning consent that will suffer the most.”

The inference here is that Stobart currently have unlimited 24/7 flying operations – and they could increase their night flying freight operations.

She has been backed by Southend Council leader, Nigel Holdcroft who confirmed Stobart could use the runway more frequently, without environmental controls in place – and the effect on residents would be greater.

If a debate does take place within the council on imposing more[,] stricter night flying controls it would lead to a bitter east-west clash on the council – with councillors in the east not too bothered about controls because their residents are not unduly affected by the airport, but with councillors in the west determined to protect their residents, particularly those in Leigh, who are affected by night flights.

WELCOME to 2011!

As is usual the year will undoubtedly be dictated in Leigh by politicians nationally and locally.

The big issue as far as Leigh is concerned will be the airport expansion – and what chaos is that in at the moment?

It’s almost as bad as the chaos that descended on Heathrow Airport when snow closed down operations before Christmas for days!

What always seems so difficult for the ordinary man in the street to comprehend is how long it takes for major decisions to be reached.

Whether you are in favour or against the airport expansion most people would have liked to have seen a definite decision by now.

Unfortunately, once an issue like this is passed up the chain – in this case to the High Court – you can wave goodbye to a quick or rational thinking.

What is holding up this decision now?

Southend Council have given the issue a full airing, it was referred up to Government and they gave the thumbs up, now the buck has been passed to the High Court as to whether there should be a judicial review.

If the answer is Yes this could mean another delay of months in the decision making.

Even if the High Court rules that a judicial review is not justified there could still be a significant delay because Southend Council still has to decide on what night-time flying restrictions should be introduced – and whether the airport will agree to any changes in the agreement they thought they had with the council.

The council thought they had reached a solution in the agreement they had reached with Stobart’s who operate the airport.

Since then, however, there has been pressure from councillors for greater restrictions in the number of night flights – and, as a result, councillors have now been promised a debate on the issue.

The target of getting the expanded airport up and running in time for the Olympics seems to be receding fast.

The problem is, however, that if this target is missed Stobart’s could decide to drop their plans for a runway extension and decide to maximise their flying operations on the existing facilities and hours they are currently allowed to operate – which is 24/7.

This could mean far more night flights than take place now, or under the agreement they reached with the council.

Everyone would then be in a no-win situation.

There is absolutely no reason why the High Court could not have reached a decision by now.

From: Ted Clarke, Leigh resident.

Anna Waite at Southend Council has been telling us all in the local media that the Judicial Review currently being sought in the High Court is responsible for the delay in the commencement of extension related work at the airport and that untold damage is being done to our local economy as a consequence. This is a parody of the truth.

The actual reason is that the airport was granted only conditional council permission in the spring of 2010 and, at the time of writing, has not fulfilled all of those obligations. It is the council itself that is, quite correctly, preventing the operations from gaining full permission to start.

The airport has already separately pointed out that they are legally entitled to press ahead with work pending any overturn of the planning permission and fully intends to do so.

More evidence of spin and bias from our council friends and evidence as to why an independent Judicial Review is so necessary as a last resort in questioning the ‘special’ relationship that continues to exist between the council and airport. Perhaps Anna would like to check with her own planning department before charging in like this in the future.

What will be very useful to us is for Anna to state the number of extra jobs gained by Southend/Rochford residents from the construction phase to date. I am certain that she will ensure that any figure given will be verifiable.

Other recent local headlines have attributed comments to Alastair Welch, airport managing director, that he is ready to fill any vacuum created by the possible closure of London City airport for the duration of the Olympic Games for security reasons.

This seems to indicate that Southend enjoys some kind of special status or exemption from the stated Home Office requirement for continual risk assessment and intelligence gathering related to all airports affected by the Olympic Games.

It does not.

This must obviously be an ongoing exercise and one might just as easily speculate that Southend Airport itself will close for the Games should sufficient reason be found.

For one example, International extremism has turned its attention to air freight as well as passenger traffic and a Stobart company now has the lease.

A major plank of the PR exercise mounted by the airport in support of the expansion would then be removed.

From: Peter Wilcox, Sunnybank Close, Eastwood.

Your front page headline, October 19, reminds us that the ‘deadline looms’ for objections to the runway extension, but is this not pretty well a ‘done deal’?

I understand a petition has been presented to David Amess [SAEN Note: A petition of around 3000 names was presented by David Amess to the European Parliament], but so far without response, so it all seems rather futile to those of us who feel that the extension would be the thin end of the wedge, and that quality of life for Eastwood and Leigh residents will inevitably deteriorate.

We are assured that airport expansion will bring great prosperity and hundreds of new jobs to the town – and pigs might fly…

The present reality is that regional airports are in decline as is the travel trade generally, with little hope for improvement in the foreseeable future. But, isn’t all this talk of ‘interested passenger operators’ just a smokescreen?

It seems most likely that the airport is destined to become a freight centre, and it should be remembered that Stobart were effectively blocked from doing this at Carlisle (BBC news May 19, 2010 if anyone wants to check), ironically perhaps, as the result of an appeal by a local farmer named Gordon Brown.

Andrew Tinkler of Stobarts is quoted as saying: “If it’s not possible to do it in Carlisle, then we’ll have to look at other places.” Interesting, eh?

On page 10, Coun Holdcroft displays what comes across, rightly or wrongly, as somewhat arrogant and certainly contemptuous attitude towards the brave individual who is seeking a judicial review, which in his opinion is a ‘speculative court action’ and a waste of public funds.

If we want to talk about wasting money, let’s think about all those pathetic palm trees – this is Southend not South of France – or the vast number of humps and bumps appearing in more and more of our streets, damaging our vehicles and simply funnelling more traffic onto fewer level roads.

And are all these other road improvement projects really going to help the situation? Maybe, maybe not, but is it morally right to spend so much, albeit Government, money in, again quoting Coun Holdcroft: “the current economic climate.”

Interestingly, the Prime Minister has just announced that all road schemes are to be cancelled, or at least postponed.

As for Warrior Square, why couldn’t that have just been left alone. Byt, I must say that I, and I believe, most other residents would certainly not like to lose the airport, indeed it would be very convenient for short trips to the Continent, or other regional airports.

But no operators have been able to keep such services going at Southend for a good many years now, so I do not believe attracting new operators can be anything to do with extending the runway as modern aircraft need far less runway, therefore this is presumably purely to satisfy EC[U] regulations.

Anyway, someone thinks it is going ahead since work has already started on the Eastwoodbury Lane ‘bypass’.

It will be interesting to see how much this will slow down westbound traffic with three new roundabouts and how much more will use the A127 from Nestuda Way. Rush hour should be fun, and then there will be all those Stobart trucks….

As a resident close to Eastwoodbury Lane for 40 years, I shall be sad to lose so much local character, particularly the six cottages, do they really need to be demolished? And if we really must have some sort of extension, why can’t Eastwoodbury Lane simply be incorporated, using the existing traffic light controls? Anyone who has visited Gibraltar, a much busier airport, will know that this would work perfectly well.

So, those of you who think ‘it will be all right in the end,’ you have been warned. Or am I just another silly old sceptic?

We shall see.

Report by JOHN BLACK

A DECISION on whether the application for a judicial review of Southend Council’s decision to approve the planning application for the Southend Airport runway extension has been successful was expected as this issue went to press.

The application has been made to a High Court judge by the campaigning group, Stop Airport Extension Now (SAEN) [or more accurately, one of our members], and the judge is expected to announce whether there is a case for a review. If he does it will set in train a process which could see a hearing not taking place until the late spring or summer next year – which would scuttle the airport’s chances of being ready for the 2012 Olympics.

If that were the case, though, it is almost certain that the Stobart Group, that operates the airport, would submit a fresh planning application. The next few months, therefore are vital for the airport and the campaigners.

In the meantime, Southend Council held special meetings of its scrutiny committee, Cabinet and full council at which the green light was given for the new link road from Eastwoodbury Lane to Nestuda Way which, when completed, will mean the part of Eastwoodbury Lane across the airfield would be closed.

Currently, there are lights that control traffic when planes are landing and taking off.

Council leader Nigel Holdcroft confirmed to councillors that the diversion across to Nestuda Way would go ahead regardless of whether the runway was extended or not.

“It does represent a very major improvement to our road structure,” he said.

It will be a single-carriageway road, and Southend Council will pay £2million towards the cost of it.

“We are still negotiating specifics with the airport about the road,” he explained afterwards. “They are required to put in a standard quality road. We are taking this opportunity to upgrade it with a better road surface etc, and the £2million has been available in the capital budget for ages.”

The council were accused by the Lib Dem leader, Coun Graham Longley of rushing through the new road and that the £2million would be better spent this year on offsetting the council’s budget problems in the wake of the Government cutbacks.

But Coun Holdcroft explained that the £2million was in the capital budget and could not be used for the purpose Coun Longley suggested.

The council leader also told this newspaper that if the application for a judicial review is successful it could cost the council thousands and thousands of pounds in legal fees.

“Our residents will be paying twice over – for our legal fees and because SAEN are on legal aid,” he added.

From: Peter Monk, Oakleigh Park Drive, Leigh

I read with amazement Coun Nigel Holdcroft’s remarks, concerning the use of Legal Aid regarding a judicial review. (Political Viewpoint, Leigh and Westcliff Times, October 19).

What a wordsmith: but there again it should be expected of him for I believe I am right in saying Coun Holdcroft, leader of the council, is himself a solicitor.

I would also assume that at sometime in his career he or his partners have advocated use of the legal aid system to a client as their democratic right, either through his own or another’s practice.

I also understand that legal aid can be reasonably lucrative to members of Mr Holdcroft’s profession.

Perhaps, if the Council/Cabinet had not seemingly muddied the waters over the JAAP report and instead had proved to be somewhat more open and transparent, then the resident Coun Holdcroft speaks of would not have felt the necessity to question the legitimacy of the Council/Cabinet decisions in respect of their dealings with the present owners of the Airport.

There is thankfully, still a procedure left in this land, Coun Holdcroft, which is open to all and allows legal challenges to be made against councils ad the like. It is called democracy.

So saying, I am led to believe that the Law Society would not have allowed legal aid to have been granted in connection with this case if they themselves did not believe it had some substance and was therefore a legitimate challenge.

THE GROUNDWORK for Southend Airport’s new passenger terminal is now underway.

Members of the public attending recent tours were the first to see the works, plus artists’ impressions of the new building, as part of a rate, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the terminal.

Following a welcome from the airport’s managing director, Alastair Welch and head of business development Jonathan Rayner, who also gave an update about the firm’s current and future development plans, guests were taken on a guided tour of the airport and its environs – including a chance to see the new control tower and railway station close up.

Construction projects required to make London Southend a fully-functioning regional airport by 2012 are all on target to meet their completion dates.

The new London Southend Airport Railway station is scheduled for completion later this year and the new Control Tower will be fully operational from February 2011. Road works required to enable the diversion of Eastwoodbury Lane to extend the runway will begin in late autumn.

Mr Welch said: “Now is an exciting time for the airport, as we are finally beginning to see all the developments we have been planning and working towards happen.

“It won’t be long now until local people will be able to fly to a variety of business and holiday destinations, without making the trek to Stansted, Gatwick, Luton or Heathrow.” [Instead, they get to inflict the noise and pollution of their selfish habits on their own neighbours.]

Surely it is the airport’s responsibility

by COUN PETER WEXHAM
Lib Dem Councillor for Leigh

WHAT control has the airport over the local Tories that run Southend Council – again is it the tail is wagging the dog?

Because the airport wants to close Eastwoodbury Lane to extend the runway a new road is going to be built near the Tesco roundabout to rejoin with Eastwoodbury Lane and, we the taxpayers, have got to put £2million towards it.

Apparently, the airport say what they have to pay for is only a substandard road – and Southend Council has to pay to make it up to the standard that is required.

This is at a time when the council has to take millions of pounds out of the budget over the next four years. The new road will not even be a dual carriageway, just single lane – so what sort of road does the airport think should be build I do not know, particularly as it is forecast that two million passengers a year will be using the airport in the years ahead.

In the 1990s, when the county council owned this land, Tesco’s wanted to buy their plot and a condition was that they had to build the roundabout so that people could get to the store from both ways on the A127.

And they also paid for the building of the dual carriageway going north to Eastwoodbury Lane.

Now as a unitary authority Southend Council is the owner and highway authority – and they let the airport dictate the terms, conditions and just say: ‘Yes sir, you want the council to jump, how high would you like?’

The council has already started the work on the drains and will carry on and build the road with no guarantee that the pending judicial review that the courts are looking at will give them the right to stop up the old road for the runway extension.

If this road is to be built the airport should fund it entirely to the standard required. If they get what they want – two million passengers in a few years time – a dual carriageway will be needed, then Southend Council will have to turn the road into a dual carriageway and pay for it out of council tax payers money.

If this is what the airport is planning then it should be funding it not Southend Council.

One thing that is upsetting the residents and visitors to our town is the fact that you cannot drive anywhere without major roadworks taking place everywhere.

This work is supposed to relieve congestion, but it has nearly closed the town for everyone. I am asked: Why does the council have to dig all the roads up at the same time?

The answer is that Southend had a list of traffic schemes waiting for Government approval from the region – and they all got approval at the same time.

These are being paid for by the last Labour Government which spent money it had not got. This is, therefore, borrowed money that is being spent right across the country.

At least, though, it does rebuild infrastructure and keep some contractors in work.

This money has to be spent by next March. In the current economic climate, though, it will be hard to get funding for any big schemes for quite a few years into the future as we will all be busy paying all this money back to whoever it is that is loaning the money to the country.

To finish on a lighter note, Southend Council held a public consultation on what the residents thought should be the way the town should be run in the future.

From the whole town of Southend – from Leigh to Shoebury – eleven people replied and ten thought the Cabinet system was the best while the eleventh person was unsure.

So, I take it that the ten members of the Cabinet replied to their own consultation and perhaps we ought to give a prize to the one other person that filled in the consultation but did not know the answer!

There you have it!

From: Jane Lovell, chair, Leigh Seafront Action Group, Sandleigh Road, Leigh.

Is the campaign against the extension of Southend Airport a ‘dead duck’?

That is what most people whom one talks to seem to think – the station is built, the control tower is built, St Laurence Park is being ploughed up for a new road.

Having just attended the SAEN, pronounced SANE – and that’s how we want to stay – annual general meeting and listend to what is happening.

The SAEN campaign – Stop Airport Extension Now – has not done it yet, but its campaign is impressive. What have they done?

They have….

• spearheaded a campaign for a judicial review – a top level legal procedure which stopped Heathrow and Stansted expansion and prevented the extension of Carlisle airport, which I gather Stobart Air wanted;
• mounted a petition which our local MP, David Amess, is to take to the European Parliament;
• become very knowledgeable about the whole scenario i.e. planning consents, church demolition procedures and found out about the ‘mystery’ station – one with no road access to the east, very little car parking and with not enough ‘running space’ between Rochford and Prittlewell stations not to overrun the platform. Is this a planning ploy by the Stobart Group to bid for the third London Hub Airport? – with Manston in Kent the other contender having no station;
• battled against press complacency and pro-airport sympathy, except in the Leigh Times;
• raised a considerable sum of money. However to fight a legal challenge at this level, particularly if it has to go to appeal. The initial application is funded by legal aid which is a good indicator of how favourably this application is viewed.

Where are all the people who attended the Leigh meeting in such fury? Are you one of the?

SAEN needs more members. No time to waste – or the night flights, as well as the day flights, will be all over us.

A rehearsal of the horrors was experienced more than a week ago in Leigh in a terrifying fashion for residents when a 757 jet – supposedly too big to land there anyway – attempted twice to land from the south with instrumental help, at very low altitude and with low cloud levels.

If you need reminding why you should join SAEN think..

This is an airport in the most densely populated area possible.

Three schools are in the direct flight path – will closure be necessary?

A consultation – the results of which have never been published.

The seizure of valuable development land for factories and houses for £1.

‘Peak oil’ prices is rapidly approaching and that will bump all transport costs sky high.

So join us now – telephone me on 01702 476707 for an application form and for more information, or download an application form at www.saen.org.uk

What’s £10 to stop one of the largest miscarriages of justice this area has seen for a considerable time and keep our area bearable. It won’t just be those under the flight path who will be affected.

Let the airport be the ‘dead duck’ – not the campaign.