Councils split over Coventry Airport plans
25.03.06
Local authorities across the Midlands are divided over whether to support Coventry Airport's expansion plans. Coventry City Council - which owns the freehold to the airport and claims hundreds of thousands of pounds per year in rent from the Baginton site - has long supported plans for a new 10,000 sq m terminal capable of handling two million passengers per year. Warwick District Council also supports planning permission being granted.
But, at an inquiry into whether the proposal should be approved this week, the West Midlands Joint Committee, which represents several councils across the region, said that it strongly objects to the scheme. It believes such development at Baginton would affect Birmingham International Airport's expansion plans - and insists Birmingham is the airport best suited to catering for local demand, fearing Baginton's lack of public transport render it inappropriate.
Speaking at Leamington town hall this week on behalf of the committee, Piers Cockroft said: 'The location of Birmingham Airport means that any improvements will benefit a considerably larger group of people compared with an equivalent investment at Coventry Airport. Any economic benefits created at Birmingham Airport will be more accessible, particularly for populations located in areas of economic regeneration.'
Mr Cockroft compared Coventry Airport unfavourably with six other airports - including East Midlands, Southampton and Newcastle - in terms of how easy it is to get to by 'green' transport, including trains and bicycles. He said: 'Coventry is the only airport of these which charges cyclists.'
'When compared with the other airports, Coventry currently has the greatest amount of airport parking spaces per passenger. It is apparent the other airports are committing funding to improve accessibility and to promote sustainable modes of transport.'
Mr Cockroft also cast doubt on the effectiveness of the hourly bus link between Baginton and Coventry city centre, saying: 'The services that serve the airport are infrequent, and for most people the service level will not reach the critical mass required to allow an individual's decision to realistically consider public transport as a viable option.'
But Coventry City Council is content with transport to the airport - and is confident expansion at Coventry will not harm Birmingham's government-backed plans. The council stated in a submission to the inquiry: 'We do not accept that the expansion at Coventry will have any significant negative impact on expansion of Birmingham Airport or the regional economy.'
The inquiry is likely to continue until June, and will continue to hear evidence on a range of issues. The inspectors chairing the hearings will eventually compile a report and present it to deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who will have the final say as to whether permission is granted.
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