Bournemouth Airport expansion plan sparks roads concern
22.12.06
Dorset and Christchurch planning departments have called for measures to handle increased traffic on the ground to be a key requirement of any plans to expand flying from Bournemouth Airport.
After owners Manchester Airport Group announced it will invest £32 million into developing the facilities at the airport to cater for 3 million passengers a year, a formal planning application is expected to be submitted to Christchurch council at the end of January.
The projected three-fold growth in air traffic is in line with government targets and the airport's own masterplan published earlier this year, and work on revamping the terminal and expanding the airport facilities could start as early as next spring.
But as well as proposals for revamping and extending the terminal buildings to handle the extra passengers, aircraft and vehicles, officials want to see schemes to improve public transport and road access to the airport.
Christchurch chief planning officer David Jobbins said: 'We are waiting to see what they come up with, but we would expect to see an environmental statement covering lots of issues and a full transportation plan.' Town hall planners would also be looking closely at the proposed phasing of the works to ensure the necessary road improvements were in place to meet the growth of the airport.
At county level, Dorset highways officials want traffic lights at the main airport entrance off Parley Lane and improvements to relieve the bottleneck at nearby Hurn Bridge. County transport and planning manager Paul Willis said: 'We want to see a commitment to funding improvements to the roundabout which will provide greater capacity.
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