As a resident of Southend, I am simply astounded that nobody has queried one material fact which is so alarmingly incorrect. The consultation goes on about how it is going to create an airport capable of servicing 2 million passengers by extending the runway to a length similar to Southampton, so it can take modern scheduled passenger aircraft traffic.

There is just one fundamental difference; Southampton is located in a completely different part of the Country. The facts of the matter are, there isn’t any dense development to speak of located around Southampton. There are no major cities within its catchment area. (not so many people living in the catchment area of the airport equals lower passenger numbers). You simply cannot compare the two.

Southend on the other hand is a short distance from London (similar to Stansted) and once the Thamesgate Development has completed, will effectively be stuck on the edge of London. We have in effect got a similar runway to Southampton, but we are located in a part of a country where the catchment density (population) is far greater, as a consequence the passenger throughput will end up being far greater than Southampton. Also with respect there are far more people in Europe that want to get to London as opposed to Southampton. We are in effect permitting an airport more on the lines of Stansted, at circa 20,000,000 passengers per annum. Southend and Rochford Councils should tell the truth to its community. It should be telling us that the real objective is to create a new MAJOR LONDON AIRPORT, and this is exactly what they are doing. Projects like Cross rail, Orbi Rail, and Thames Link 2000 will increase the catchment area yet further, by reducing journey times, and increasing passenger capacity to the airport, from London and consequently will increase passenger numbers yet further. We are in effect proposing to build an airport which will compete with Stansted, yet lack the supporting infrastructure. It scares me, that no one else realises this. Forget the fact that the airport is going to be our “local” airport, the reality is we are going to end up with an airport that serves the whole of London, and we will have all the noise, pollution, gridlock, and other environmental complications that come with it. We have already seen that airports do not create the number of jobs they purport to produce. They are not community friendly. It will compromise the environment that we live in irrevocably. I live in Southend and commute to London, that’s because me, my wife, and children like the environment of Southend. I don’t want it Londonized.

City airport, has a shorter runway, so surely when Southend’s Railway Station is built, coupled with improved infrastructure on the railways, and the development of the Thames gateway this will be enough to see Southend grow in a steady sustainable manner throughout time with its current runway length. The government never intended to have 3 new runways in the South East, it planned to have 2. One at Heathrow and the other at Stansted. This runway extension, will effectively be a new runway, because the additional length means it can compete with the MAJOR LONDON AIRPORTS. I don’t believe this was ever the Government’s intention to have a third runway in the South East, so let Heathrow and Stansted get on with it, and keep Southend Airport the small LOCAL airport the Government had intended it to be.

One thing that continues to baffle me during our long battle over St Laurence Church, when the airport tried to extend the airport first time round, we were told the church had to go as it was an issue with the CAA due to its proximity to the runway, and as a result created an unacceptable obstruction risk. We were told that the CAA stated that their policy with regards to permitting any new development was that any existing variations had to be removed, and no further ones allowed.

Having regard to the amount of time and hassle and stress this caused everybody, what is the CAA’s position now? Do they think it appropriate to open the flood gates to passengers and aircraft by extending the runway, without addressing the safety issues in accordance with the CAA’s own policies? Is that not irresponsible?

So if you want to have a LOCAL airport don’t let them extend the runway, and make sure you have your say by writing to Rochford Council ASAP (Before the 15th May 2009 as that is when the consultation closes). Contact details are:-

http://rochford.jdi-consult.net/jaap/
or call Rochford Council Planning
Department on 01702 318191.

Remember to object, not just comment.

If you prefer, write to Rochford Council at:

Rochford Council Planning Department,
Council Offices,
South Street,
Rochford.
SS4 1BW

Greg Tyler, Southchurch Rd, Southend on Sea.