Council to fight London City Airport growth plan
02.11.07
Barking and Dagenham residents will be plagued by the droning of planes if plans to expand London City Airport are approved. The plans would add tens of thousands of extra flights each year over the borough, council officers have warned.
The officers want the airport's application to increase flight numbers from the current 80,000 a year to 120,000 by 2010, and passenger numbers from 2.4 million to almost 4 million to be rejected. As a member of the London City Airport Transport Forum, they will be allowed to comment on the expansion, even though the airport is located in Newham - two miles west of Barking and Dagenham.
The council officers believe the extra flights will increase the amount of noise heard by residents, particularly those in Thames ward, will worsen pollution in Barking and Dagenham, and will increase traffic on the borough's roads as more passengers travel to and from the airport. They have recommended that the council's development control board object to the expansion.
However, a spokesman for London City Airport said: 'We are surprised that Barking and Dagenham Council wish to deny the economic and social benefits of a successful airport to local residents. The airport has operated in harmony with its neighbours for over 20 years, and we intend to continue that relationship.'
The spokesman said the expansion would generate 1,000 extra jobs, while the effects on traffic, noise and pollution would be minor.
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