Coventry Airport plans to come under scrutiny at council meeting
16.12.05
Coventry Airport's public transport plans will come under scrutiny at Leamington town hall in a meeting on Monday (19th December). The meeting is likely to be the last time the district council discusses the airport before an inquiry starts next month into whether the building should be constructed.
Warwick District Council's planning committee supported proposals for a new 10,000 sq metre terminal at the site in September - with the condition that owner Tui improves bus and train services to Baginton.
Tui's managers have since come up with ideas to ease councillors' concerns. These include doubling the frequency of the dedicated bus from Coventry city centre to the airport - from every hour to every half hour - and providing buses from Warwick and Leamington when passenger numbers from this area reach a certain level.
The final decision on the terminal rests with the deputy prime minister, who will be advised by government appointed inspectors chairing the inquiry. If the council accepts Tui's transport proposals, the authority will ask the government to grant permission, bringing an end to two years of costly opposition.
Taxpayers have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on an earlier inquiry into the existing Thomsonfly terminal - the result of which is due this month - and legal fees resulting from a failed High Court bid to close the building. The committee has changed its stance regarding the development on a number of occasions, initially being hostile but becoming more amenable as costs and evidence increased.
Three months ago it veered from rejecting to supporting the terminal within just one week - so although Monday's meeting may appear straightforward, there could yet be another twist in the tale. The meeting starts at 16:00.
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