RDC has granted permission to more than double the size of the new terminal at Southend Airport, only weeks after it first opened, at a meeting on Thursday 19th April. Despite strong opposition, only one member of the public was permitted to speak against the application. No one spoke in support of it.

Approval was given despite a large number of councillors being absent. Only 14 attended, six of whom declared interests but were still allowed to vote. Voting took place almost immediately after SAEN[1] member Bernard Free had finished speaking. There was no detailed scrutiny of the application by councillors, in stark contrast to the residential application they had considered earlier in the agenda.

SAEN Chairman, Graham Whitehead said “This is unfortunately the level of democracy we have come to expect from our local councils. They go through the motions of consulting residents, then completely ignore them and do whatever the airport wants. The airport hasn’t kept their promise of thousands of jobs and residents’ quality of life is being destroyed.”

It has emerged that Anglian Water were not informed of the application. SAEN understands that the water company is less than happy. They have stated that the new terminal as it stands was only just approved as it took the sewage system up to 100% capacity. Clearly, the newly-approved terminal extension will put the sewage system over-capacity with the additional rain water and other waste that the system will need to accommodate.

In the past, the Airport has always said that they are aiming for 2 million passengers per year by 2020. However, it is understood that easyJet are looking to handle as many as 6 million passengers per year. This will mean even more noisy flights over the 70,000 local residents who live under the flight path and more congestion on Southend’s busy roads.

ENDS.

Notes to Editors

1. “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 opposed to the inappropriate expansion of the airport, which is causing a massive increase in flights and destroying the lives of the people living, working or going to school anywhere near the flightpath.

For further information:

• Visit the SAEN website – http://saen.org.uk/

The claims follow the start of easyJet flights to various European destinations.

It is expected there will be up to 70 flights a week from the airport, however, residents living beneath the flightpath have taken to social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter, claiming noise levels from the airport have increased.

Tanya Artus, 39, who lives under the flightpath in Leigh, said: “The only way I can sleep is with earplugs at the moment.”

Alastair Welch, managing director of the airport, said new equipment has been installed to reduce the impact on residents and there was a cap on night flights.

He added: “When larger aircraft take off, they are required to follow specified noise preferential routes to minimise environmental impact.”

BBC Essex 20120113 Ray Clark Breakfast

Air safety regulations demand the lights next to the A127, close to the RBS and Tesco roundabout in Westcliff, had to be reduced in height.

The work is part of the package of measures to get the airport ready for regular easyJet flights, due to start in April.

Already, the same shorter street lights have been installed the complete length of Nestuda Way.

This runs across the end of the runway, which needs to be 300 metres longer to accommodate the increase in business.

The move comes after residents were left outraged last month following the chopping down of seven trees along Prince Avenue, between the junctions with Exford Avenue and Dulverton Avenue. This was also to make allowances for low-flying planes.

Three more trees were pruned to comply with the Civil Aviation Authority rules.

Plus, television aerials will also have to go from homes in the flight path.

Some residents in the surrounding area have already received letters asking them to remove their aerials because of aviation regulations.

Graham Longley, leader of the Lib Dem group in Southend, said: “I honestly don’t think for a minute we are going to have a plane the level of an aerial or lamp post.

“The airport has the right to do these things in law. It is not something we can do a great deal about.”

Members of Plane Stupid and Climate Rush entered the airport at 09:00 BST on Saturday and were arrested by Essex police officers.

They had planned to put solar panels on the runway and perform a dance routine dressed as pilots and cabin crew.

The five men and 10 women have been released on police bail until 30 November.

They were being held on suspicion of entering a restricted zone at an airport and aggravated trespass.

‘Solar power needed’

The airport wants to extend its runway by 300m (984ft) to allow larger passenger aircraft to be used.

The Stobart Group, which owns the airport, aims to have two million passengers a year passing through its terminal, by 2020.

In a statement before the arrests, a spokeswoman for the protesters said: “Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs.

“But investment in renewable energy would create many more jobs without damaging the climate.

“What we need is solar power, not plane power.”

An airport spokeswoman said the runway had been closed for a “short period” while police dealt with the situation but no flights had been affected.

Police have now confirmed that it was five men and 10 ten women who were arrested at about 9am on Saturday. They have now been bailed until November 30.

The group includes a 20-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman from Norwich and a 43 year-old man from Whistable in Kent. The remainder are from various areas of London.

Protest organisation Plane Stupid has claimed responsibility for five of the protestors who they say managed to get on the runway at 9am today to try and install solar panels.

They were dressed as pilots and cabin crew.

They say an extra five were from another group called Climate Rush.’

Police were called to the scene just after 9am.

The group remain in police custody.

A spokeswoman for the protestors said: “What we need is solar power not plane power.” A spokeswoman for Southend Airport said: “Earlier this morning Essex Police were called to London Southend airport following a report of suspicious activity at the airport perimeter. “Police swiftly dealt with a breach in the airport perimeter and a number of people were arrested. “The runway was closed for a short period whilst the police responded. “No flights were impacted by this event.”

The Stop Airport Extension Now (SAEN) group has denied any involvement, but a spokesman said: “it’s understandable why they are feeling so frustrated.”

Members of Plane Stupid and Climate Rush entered the airport at 09:00 BST and were apprehended by officers.

In a press release, the groups said they planned to put solar panels on the runway and do a dance routine dressed as pilots and cabin crew.

Police initially said 16 people were in custody, but at 15:00 BST confirmed five men and 10 women were detained.

The airport wants to extend its runway by 300m (984ft) to allow larger passenger aircraft to be used.

‘Solar power’

The Stobart Group, which owns the airport, aims to have two million passengers a year passing through its terminal, by 2020.

In a statement before the arrests, a spokeswoman for the protesters said: “Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs.

“But investment in renewable energy would create many more jobs without damaging the climate.

“What we need is solar power, not plane power.

“The bigger runway is bad for climate change, bad for local residents under the flight path and is not needed to help the local economy.”

Using Twitter, Plane Stupid said members had invaded the runway at 09:00 BST and remained there “for at least an hour”.

Essex Police said officers responded quickly to reports of protesters gaining access to Southend Airport shortly after the protesters broke in.

Flights ‘unaffected’

All 15 suspects are being held on suspicion of entering a restricted zone at an airport and aggravated trespass.

A 20-year-old man and a 19 year-old woman from Norwich and a 43 year-old man from Whitstable in Kent are among those arrested.

The remainder are from various parts of London.

Det Ch Insp Stuart Hooper said: “We were on heightened general alert to airports and our response to the protest was very swift.

“We have a number of well-rehearsed contingency plans for events such as this and we have launched a criminal investigation following the incident at Southend.”

An airport spokeswoman confirmed the runway had been closed for a “short period” while police dealt wth the situation.

“No flights were impacted by this event,” she said.

The site at which the protesters allegedly entered the airport - the zebra crossing over an airport taxiway on Footpath 36

The direct action group Plane Stupid has claimed credit for the protest alongside Suffragette-inspired campaigners Climate Rush.[2] Further information about the incident is available from the Press Association[3] and BBC News[4].

SAEN was unaware of today’s protest, but has been opposing the runway extension at Southend Airport and associated development ever since the summer of 2008 when Southend Borough Council and Rochford District Council launched a Joint Area Action Plan (JAAP) to determine planning policy for the airport and its environs.

Initially, four options were on the table – low growth, two medium growth variants and high growth. The majority opposed “Scenario 3″[5], which was the high growth option, but it was this proposal that was taken forward and phase 2 of consultation was on this high growth plan, which included an extension to the runway to allow larger planes to use the airport. Again, the overwhelming majority objected[6]. By this time, Stobart had bought the airport and were developing a planning application for the runway extension.

View from Footpath 36 towards the runway at Southend Airport, where it is understood the protest took place

It is therefore entirely understandable that protesters would take direct action to protest against this unjust scheme and SAEN is grateful to the protesters for showing solidarity with the local community.

SAEN Spokesman, Denis Walker, said: “The town is being blighted by the closure of Eastwoodbury Lane, the demolition of six homes and the threat of thousands of flights a month, but we’re getting nothing in return but more noise and more traffic. Regional airports take money out of the local economy as people go abroad to spend and while there will be a few jobs they never match the numbers the developers claim. The town has been double-crossed and councillors should be ashamed.”

ENDS.

Notes to Editors

1. “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.
2. http://twitter.com/#!/planestupid and http://twitter.com/#!/ClimateRush
3. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jSJ0PtpT3Ot13P5nKU_5vVfrlTZA?docId=N0343301319879438537A
4. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-15505319
5. http://www.saen.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/JAAP_issues_and_options_summary_consultation_response.pdf (see p15)
6. http://www.saen.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Resp-to-JAAP-POR-Final-Version.pdf (see p4)

For further information:

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

Activists went on to the runway at Southend Airport in Essex shortly after 9am on Saturday.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “Sixteen people gained entry to Southend Airport. We were deployed very quickly and have arrested them all, and they are in custody.”

Some managed to get on to the runway, she added.

Campaigners said the demonstration was against the planned expansion of the airport.

A spokeswoman for the protesters said: “Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs. But investment in renewable energy would create many more jobs without damaging the climate. What we need is solar power not plane power.

“The bigger runway is bad for climate change, bad for local residents under the flight path and is not needed to help the local economy.”

Activists went on to the runway in south Essex shortly after 9am on Saturday morning.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “Sixteen people gained entry to Southend Airport. We were deployed very quickly and have arrested them all, and they are in custody.”

Some managed to get on to the runway, she added.

Campaigners said the demonstration was against the planned expansion of the airport.

A spokeswoman for the protesters said: “Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs. But investment in renewable energy would create many more jobs without damaging the climate. What we need is solar power not plane power.

“The bigger runway is bad for climate change, bad for local residents under the flight path and is not needed to help the local economy.”