Posts Tagged ‘Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government’

Tory MP urges minister to act swiftly over Southend Airport plan

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

A TORY MP put pressure on a Government minister to make a swift decision over Southend Airport’s £30million expansion plans.

James Duddridge questioned Communities Secretary John Denham in the Commons after the controversial proposals to extend the airport runway were backed by Southend Council’s development control committee.

Before the plan was considered, Mr Denham decided to take the final decision away from the council and either give the go-ahead, or call a public inquiry to scrutinise the plan.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Duddridge, Rochford and Southend East MP, urged Mr Denham to consider the plan quickly and make a decision.

He told the minister: “It would be helpful to the local community if he could tell us roughly when he will make a decision on that matter, and whether there will be a need for a public inquiry. The sooner the better.”

However, Mr Denham would not be drawn on the issue and said it was inappropriate to comment.

Airport operator, the Stobart Group, hopes to have the runway extension complete to take advantage of the 2012 London Olympics.

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Airport delay

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Council agree – but Minister steps in

TWO Leigh Liberal Democrat councillors won a ‘battle’ to delay the airport expansion scheme – but now wait to see if they have won the ‘war’.

Couns Alan Crystall and Peter Wexham both wrote to John Denham, the Communities Secretary of State, along with, it is understood a letter from the campaign group, SAEN – Stop Airport [Extension] Now – and he has said no expansion should commence until he has studied all the papers and decided whether to leave it with Southend Council to decide or order a public inquiry.

In the meantime, though, Southend Council’s development control committee decided last week by 14 votes to three to give their approval to the airport’s expansion scheme application – which includes a 300m extension of the runway to enable it to take passenger jets.

Now the airport, council and objectors wait to see what Mr Denham says.

He has promised to deal with the issue quickly – but all sides are mindful that there is only a three-month ‘window’ for him to announce his decision.

An election is likely on May 6 – but it will be called at least three weeks earlier, and if he has not made his decision by then it could be some months before a new administration gets round to looking at the issue.

In his letter to Southend Council – published in full on page 14 – Mr Denham said because he had received representations against the plan he had asked to see all the papers.

Coun Crystall’s intervention was particularly relevant because he is one of the leading planning spokesmen in the Eastern Region.

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Government Minister must approve extension of runway

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

THE expansion of Southend Airport will not go ahead without the approval of a Government minister, it has been announced.

Even if Southend Council approves the plan to extend the runway across Eastwoodbury Lane, it will still need the go-ahead from Government Minister John Denham.

Mr Denham, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, will either approve the plan or call it in for a public inquiry.

The council’s development control committee is meeting today to discuss the plans. If the committee refuses the application, the plans are dead. [Not strictly true, as the airport could appeal the decision.]

But if it is approved, the decision is put on hold until the Secretary of State decides he will not intervene or he decides to “call in” the application.

This means there would be a public inquiry about the plan, chaired by a Government planning inspector.

The Secretary of State is not required to reach a decision with any specific timescale, but aims to deal with it “as quickly as possible”.

Anti-expansion pressure group Stop Airport [Extension] Now welcomed the news.

Spokesman Denis Walker said: “The direction means it’s much more likely there will be a public inquiry and that’s good news.

“This is what we’ve been asking for ever since the planning application was submitted.

“Leaving this decision to Southend Council means there wouldn’t be proper scrutiny of it.

“Without a public inquiry, there would be no cross-examination of evidence or full scrutiny in public.

“This major decision would be left entirely in the hands of a process designed to approve extensions to houses.”

Inquiry delay would be ‘frustrating’

THE leader of Southend Council said he is concerned plans to expand the airport could be delayed by the Government’s decision.

Tory leader Nigel Holdcroft said: “There was always the possibility the Government would issue the directive, therefore, it doesn’t come as a great surprise.

“Obviously, the application will still be considered on its merits by the development control team.

“Hopefully, the Secretary of State reviews the situation promptly and decides as quickly as possible to call the matter in if the committee approves it.

“If it’s called in for a public inquiry, it would lead to a significant delay which the airport organisers would find very frustrating.”

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Southend West, Peter Welch, said he welcomed the Government’s decision.

About John Denham

JOHN Denham is the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Mr Denham, 56, has been Labour MP for Southampton Itchen since 1992 and has been the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government since June.

He recently hit the headlines for claiming class was a more significant factor in 21st-century Britain than race.

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