Solihull Council to decide Birmingham Airport runway extension on December 15
14.11.08
Solihull Council will decide on December 15 whether to approve Birmingham Airport’s £130 million runway extension, the Birmingham Mail reports. The newspaper adds that planning committee members 'will face passionate arguments in favour and against one of the most important transportation decisions in the West Midlands for decades.'
The region’s seven metropolitan councils, and most MPs, are backing the 400-metre extension, which will enable the airport to offer non-stop flights to China, India and the west coast of America. The existing runway is too short to allow planes to reach such destinations without stopping to re-fuel. It has been estimated the lack of runway capacity means Birmingham Airport, and the regional economy, loses millions in economic investment each year to Manchester Airport and the north-west.
Environmental groups argue an expanded airport will ‘send out the wrong message’ about curbing carbon emissions. Friends of the Earth is urging the council to take the runway extension application as seriously as plans for the expansion of Heathrow Airport. Spokesman Chris Crean warned Birmingham Airport ‘could become Heathrow’s third runway’, with a high-speed rail service between Birmingham International and London.
Even if planners back the extension, a final decision is expected to be taken by the Government. It is likely a public inquiry will be ordered, which could delay the process at least three years.
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