Coventry Airport goes green to try to settle dispute with the council
24.06.05
Warring parties in the Coventry Airport vs. Warwick District Council planning battle could be nearing an agreement on the future of the temporary terminal. Managers at the Baginton site have drawn up a 56-page document detailing how it plans to limit the operation's effects on the environment, which could be an acceptable compromise for the council.
These measures will be discussed by Warwick District Council's planning committee on July 4 - and support from the committee could signal the beginning of a consensus with airport owner Tui about how the site should be run. Among the proposed changes in the document are a restriction on flying during certain hours, a noise monitoring system and re-routing flights away from built-up areas. It also includes a range of policies to improve public transport and an 'air quality programme' to record and limit pollution.
The measures would come into effect only if the airport's management is successful in getting planning permission for the terminal from the Secretary of State - a matter currently being discussed by a public inquiry. The district council currently has no say over flights to or from the airport, and ironically could gain some legally-binding control if it accept the offer and loses the current planning battle, so that the temporary terminal building is granted retrospective permission.
Representatives from the airport and the local authority have met at various times outside the inquiry in recent months - but district council planning officer Gary Stephens insists a compromise with the airport's managers, allowing the terminal to stay but under strict condition, is not on the agenda.
Mr Stephens said: 'If members feel the measures are acceptable, it will be recorded in our closing submissions to the inquiry as the view of the council. We'll be saying to the Secretary of State that, if the development requires permission and he grants permission, this would be a suitable package of mitigation measures. He may take a different view.'
Mr Stephens stressed agreement on this matter would not affect the authority's other arguments against the airport. The July 4 meeting will also discuss whether to grant permission for a 2,000-space airport parking to the south of the terminal.
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