'Don't let us down' Coventry airport protesters tell councillors
04.07.05
Protesters fighting the expansion of Coventry airport issued a lastminute plea to local politicians today, asking them to continue their opposition to a controversial airport. The have written to all those involved in tonight's planning meeting, with the message 'don't let us down.'
Officers from Warwick District Council stunned groups fighting expansion at Coventry Airport last week, by recommending its planning committee agrees to conditionally back a temporary terminal and 2,000-space car park at a meeting tonight. However, the Campaign Against Expansion of Coventry Airport (CAECA) has sent letters to all councillors on the committee urging them to bring their 'good sense to the planning process, and protect local people and the local environment' by rejecting the recommendations.
After more than a year of battling to stop the advent of passenger flights at Coventry airport - including a High Court hearing and the first of two planned public inquiries - council officers have recommended acceptance of a mitigation package (see this earlier coventry airport news story). The recommendation comes as a public inquiry, triggered by the airport's appeal against enforcement notices issued by the council on the temporary terminal, nears conclusion.
Although the council denied it was now backing the airport, it is understood officials privately believe the Secretary of State is likely to find in favour of the airport, and the mitigation package - the third offered by the airport - is the best they are now likely to achieve. Protesters also believe council officials have backed off as a result of threats by the airport's owners to pursue them for costs, should they win their appeals.
Archy Muir, spokesman for CAECA, said last week: 'Throughout the planning process and the public inquiry, the airport's lawyers have regularly made threats to pursue cost claims against the council. We believe the council officers have buckled under the weight of these cost threats, and gone for a deal with the airport at any price.'
'Consequently, they are recommending their planning committee to support planning permission for the temporary terminal in return for an airport 'mitigation and compensation' package which appears to be little more than smoke and mirrors.'
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