Bristol Airport boss makes case for expansion
03.03.10
Bristol Airport's existing facilities cannot cope with increasing demand and it needs permission to expand, according to its chief executive. Ahead of today's decision by North Somerset Council on its £150 million expansion plans, which include a multi-storey car park, expanded terminal and improved transport links, Robert Sinclair said: 'Last year the airport was used by 5.6 million passengers. Visitors from overseas have nearly tripled since 2003.'
'Job numbers have doubled in the last decade and many people and businesses now make significant savings in time and money by flying from their regional airport. After year during which passenger numbers understandably dipped as a result of the recession, we are seeing a return to growth. This will again expose the uncomfortable fact that our facilities aren't adequate to meet the needs of a resurgent region.'
The airport claims its passenger numbers will rise from six million this year, to an annual total of 10 million by 2020. Mr Sinclair added: 'Significant congestion already exists, particularly at peak times, when passengers experience lengthy queues at security and immigration - both areas where we simply do not have the space to expand without extending the terminal building.' He also revealled that research by the airport showed more than 3,500 new jobs will be created if the proposals are approved.
But anti-expansion campaigners have dismissed claims the airport should expand to cope with 10 million passengers a year, and instead have insisted that no more than eight million people should use it annually. Jeremy Birch, of Stop Bristol Airport Expansion (SBAE), stated 'While we recognise that Bristol Airport as it now stands serves the area's business and leisure needs, we strongly believe that with plans to develop to 10 million passengers and more, any advantages would be far outweighed by detrimental impacts such as increased traffic, noise, development of green-belt land and carbon emissions.'
'In 2007, ninety three percent of passengers reached the airport by car, with the airport itself predicting only a small reduction, to eighty five percent, by 2019. This would mean mean two million additional car journeys each year.'
The airport planning application will be decided at a special meeting of North Somerset Council at Weston Town Hall today at 18:00.
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