A report from Southend Airport’s exhibition on its expansion followed by an interview with Denis Walker, Spokesman for SAEN.
Posts Tagged ‘Southend Airport’
Airport applies to extend terminal
Friday, January 13th, 2012SAEN grateful to Plane Stupid protesters
Saturday, October 29th, 2011
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
- “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.
- http://twitter.com/#!/planestupid and http://twitter.com/#!/ClimateRush
- http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jSJ0PtpT3Ot13P5nKU_5vVfrlTZA?docId=N0343301319879438537A
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-15505319
- http://www.saen.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/JAAP_issues_and_options_summary_consultation_response.pdf (see p15)
- 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/
Inquiry to be held into road closure
Friday, March 11th, 2011THE Government has called a public inquiry into plans to block a road in preparation for the airport runway extension.
The runway extension is a key part of ambitious plans to transform Southend into a modern regional passenger airport in time for the 2012 London Olympics.
The inquiry will only look at the council decision to block Eastwoodbury Lane and reroute traffic, so the runway can be made 1,000 feet longer.
The closure was approved by the council in January last year, when the extension was given planning permission.
However, a “stopping-up order” is needed to block the road and if anyone objects, it automatically triggers a public inquiry. [This is completely false. SAEN has spoken to Neil Crass at the National Transport Casework Team at GO North East and confirmed that the decision to call a Public Inquiry was taken by his office and there was no duty to have an Inquiry merely because someone had objected. The fact that they have called a Public Inquiry is proof that there are serious unanswered questions to be answered about the proposals.]
Campaign Group, Stop Airport Extension Nw, said the minister’s decision had arisen from objections from its members [and other local residents].
Andrew Meddle, the council’s head of planning, said: “The airport operator carried out a public consultation over its proposals to close the old road [This is also false. The consultation was organised by the Government Office for the North East (GO North East), not the Airport.] and the Secretary of State must call an inquiry in the event of a single objection. [Also also wrong. See above.]
“A major factor in this case is the council has granted the airport operator planning permission to construct a new road in advance of any closure. A condition of that permission was the old road could only be closed once the new road was complete.”
Airport director Alastair Welch, said: “The inquiry will be confined to the issues raised by the stopping up, not the wider issues of airport development, the latter having already been permitted.”
“Noise and night flights to be curbed”
Thursday, March 10th, 2011DISCLAIMER: This article is included on the SAEN website to maintain a record of press coverage. It is extremely biased in favour of the airport and extremely factually inaccurate. The Echo should be ashamed to print such rubbish.
Public Inquiry into Airport Proposals
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011PLANS to extend Southend Airport’s runway could be delayed after the Government ordered a public inquiry.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond, has called for an investigation into the proposed closure of Eastwoodbury Lane, which was previously approved by Southend Council.
Airport bosses are looking to replace the road with a new link road, between Eastwoodbury Lane and Nestuda Way, to allow a 300m extension of the runway to go ahead.
Managing director Alastair Welch said staff were working to ensure the airport would still be operational for the 2012 Olympics.
He explained: “We have carefully planned the airport’s development and we are working with the appropriate authorities over a number of matters and can confirm that we remain on programme to complete the redevelopment in time for the Olympics.”
Southend Council is contributing to the cost of upgrading the specification of the new road. A spokesman said a public inquiry had been expected.
Head of planning and transport, Andrew Meddle, explained: “The Secretary of State’s decision to call a public inquiry into this matter is not unexpected.
“The airport operators carried out a public consultation over the proposals to close the old road and the Secretary of State is duty bound to call an enquiry in the event of a single objection.” [This is completely false. The consultation was organised by the Government Office for the North East (GO North East), not the Airport. SAEN has spoken to Neil Crass at the National Transport Casework Team at GO North East and confirmed that the decision to call a Public Inquiry was taken by his office and there was no duty to have an Inquiry merely because someone had objected. The fact that they have called a Public Inquiry is proof that there are serious unanswered questions to be answered about the proposals.]
The decision for a public inquiry came following objections from residents and campaign group, Stop Airport Expansion [Extension] Now.
Campaign group spokesman, Denis Walker, said: “This is the first time that the runway extension development will receive public scrutiny, so it’s excellent news for our campaign.
“We are confident that in the cold light of day, the justification for closing Eastwoodbury Lane to enable the runway extension doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
“The economic, environmental and social costs all outweigh any benefit and we look forward to the opportunity to explain this to a Government Inspector.”
Has safety situation changed?
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011TO those who belittle opponents to the Airport runway extension, I suggest they take a look at the following. It is from a Southend Airport document published in December 2004, when it was decided, for safety reasons, to ‘move’ St. Laurence’s Church on ‘rollerskates’ 110-metres north from where it stands. It makes interesting reading.
“Unless the church is moved, the Airport will not be able to meet today’s safety regulations without shortening the runway to such a point that commercial aircraft that already use the Airport would be unable to get in and out. The aircraft maintenance companies would then close their businesses and the Airport would be unable to continue in business.This is not a situation that the Airport has chosen for itself or would wish to be in. Meeting safety standards however must be in the interests of everyone including those who use the church today, so close to the runway.”
The full document can be found at www.southendairport.com/PDFs/Leaflet7.pdf for those still living in cloud-cuckoo-land. If any of them can answer my question – if the church was a safety hazzard then, why is the church wall the only hazard now? I’d love to hear from them.
Name and address supplied
Airport debate imminent
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011Lib Dems step up campaign for night closure
Report by JOHN BLACK
SOUTHEND Council could hold special meetings of its Cabinet and full council later this month to decide on what changes need to be made to the night flying hours at Southend Airport under its expansion programme.
Coun Nigel Holdcroft, leader of Southend Council, has always maintained that he wants this issue decided before councillors begin campaigning for the local elections in May.
The airport debate could be held towards the middle of this month.
There is tradition that the council should not discuss controversial issues – particularly where political capital can be made in debate, in the month before the elections.
This has been challenged, though, by the two Lib Dem candidates for Leigh and West Leigh – Coun Peter Wexham and Chris Bailey.
They issued a statement last week saying: “Why is Coun Holdcroft so frightened of the voters? Is he afraid that they will not like the scheme he is cooking up with Stobart’s? What he should be afraid of is Stobart’s and their wish to make money out of night flights.
“At present our nights are quiet because there is so little business at the airport. But the danger local residents face is obvious.
“When the airport runway is lengthened it will be able to handle larger planes. And with the other airports in the south east closed at night they will come here.
“Stobart’s must be planning to make money from night flights, otherwise why would they resist a night closure?”
As the Lib Dem candidates for Leigh and West Leigh they say they want to make their position clear.
“To us, the tarting point for any decision on night flying is simple. London City Airport is closed from 10pm to 6.30am on weekdays to protect local residents from noise. We demand the same.”
Decision
They add that pushing a decision through before the election “will not help him.”
“Voters on May 5 will take revenge on councillors who vote to shatter our sleep with night flights,” the two candidates said.
Coun Holdcroft also denounced a statement from Coun Graham Longley, leader of the Lib Dems group that a deal, negotiated ‘in secret’, had already been drawn up between the council and Stobart’s.
Coun Longley said: “Letters from Mrs Jo Marchetti, Stobart Air’s community affairs co-ordinator appears to say that the airport will reclassify the night period from 12.00-6.00am to 23.00m – 6.30am and that passenger flights will not be permitted during these new times.
“The letter further points out that ‘night movements’ will be limited to an average of four flights per night – the current average – and aircraft with a quota count of more than one will not be permitted.
“Although these new regulations do not go far enough and it is disappointing there is not a full night closure they will go some way towards allaying residents fears and concerns.”
Coun Holdcroft commented: “I don’t know what Coun Longley is on about. It is no secret that we have been having ongoing talks with the airport – this was reported in this newspaper. We obviously want something definitive on controls to put to councillors when the debate is held.”
In the meantime, the anti-airport expansion group, SAEN has announced that a renewal of claim for permission to apply for Judicial Review has been filed with the High Court. This means that a 20-minute hearing in front of a High Court judge will take place later this year. “We understand that it is usual for such a hearing to take place within two months” said spokesman Denis Walker.
Challenged
He revealed that all grounds for refusal are being challenged by the lawyers pursuing the case on behalf of one of SAEN’s members.
He said: “We are now in the position that the initial refusal is effectively meaningless. The decision will now be taken by the judge presiding over the Oral Hearing. We look forward to confirmation of the date of that hearing.
“We would urge the council and the airport to show restraint during this period and not to start work on the link road between Eastwoodbury Lane and Nestuda Way, at least until the outcome of this hearing is known.”
The group’s original application for a full Judicial Review was rejected – as reported in the last issue of this newspaper.
We need to ask questions about future of the town
Monday, February 28th, 2011John Geoghegan’s report on present and future developments in Southend was accompanied by a photograph of the refurbished Palace Hotel.
While it is undeniably welcome to see an iconic building restored and back in use, it does not represent the plans of Southend Council for the town.
Consider how out of place the Palace looks against the glass structure giving access to the pier, and what will be the view when the wave-roofed construction is planted on the pierhead?
We seem to have swapped historic seafront shelters for lighting columns which look like dockland cranes and the City Beach (where did that come from?) with no kerbs to separate traffic and pedestrians.
Consider Mr Geoghegan’s question in the light of the retail takeover by giants such as Tesco, for who we can only assume that the Victoria junction was ripped apart, and Sainsbury’s, bulldozing small businesses literally to make way for a superstore diagonally opposite Priory Park.
The whole Priory Crescent fiasco and the airport expansion have more to do with business and the assumption of local jobs than anything else.
Certainly, the manufacturers of traffic lights are enjoying a boom at Cuckoo Corner. At least they will give the newly trapped drivers something to look at as that junction becomes the new Blue Boar congestion blackspot.
Why did Tesco get planning approval without the promised affordable homes on the prime central Southend site?
Why are Southend planners offering so much support to Sainsbury’s to the extent of possible compulsory purchase, in exchange for a rapidly shrinking, but still oversize, stadium at Fossetts Farm?
And why are these type of schemes all decided by the council’s development control committee, which seems to go out of its way to make public debate and input impossible?
My only hope is that when it comes to this year’s local elections, the people of Southend don’t forget to ask candidates awkward questions and then vote accordingly.
Alan Hart
Randolph Close
Leigh
Work on terminal is gathering pace
Friday, February 25th, 2011A NEW £10million terminal building at Southend Airport is taking shape as bosses press ahead with their ambitious expansion plans.
As debate rages about legal challenges to the runway extension, the airport is moving on with its £35million expansion plans regardless. Ground-works for the terminal, which is due to open by October, are complete and the steel structure is in place. The floors will be put in next followed by the roof.
Alastair Welch, the airport’s managing director, said: “The terminal is coming along really well, with all the steel in place now.
“It’s come from nothing to this in just two weeks.
“We expect to see further and real progress in the next two weeks.”
The building will be two storeys high with three shops and two cafes.
Just a two-minute walk via a covered walkway from the new railway station, it will have glass walls and a curved roof.
The check-in, on the ground floor, will have six desks with security. The departure lounge will be upstairs.
Airport bosses say the terminal has been designed to give customers the shortest possible, hassle-free journey from check-in to plane.
Mr Welch said: “The key thing is the convenience, it’s so close from the station to the car park. [Why would that matter if you were coming by train?]
“No customers should wait more than four minutes to get out of security. Within 15 minutes of landing, if you have no hold luggage, passengers should be in the car park or on the station.”
Mr Welch said he was pleased about 85 per cent of the terminal work tendered out so far had gone to local companies. [Where local apparently means Romford and beyond]
The new terminal is one of several construction projects required to make Southend a fully-functioning regional airport by 2012.
The £3million control tower is due to be opened in several weeks, once staff training is finished, while the £12million railway station will be up and running by the spring. [Southend Council contributed over £1million to each of these developments.]
Work on the £2million [Wrong - the cost is unknown at present, but is very much in excess of this figure as that was to be Southend Council's contribution] link road between Nestuda Way and Eastwoodbury Lane, to make way for the extended runway, will begin in March and airport bosses hope it will be open in August.
