Further delay for East Midlands Airport runway plan
07.03.09
A decision on the long awaited runway extension at East Midlands Airport was supposed to come this month – after an eight-and-a-half-year wait. But the planning application has disappeared from the latest North West Leicestershire District Council's planning committee agenda, meaning that it has been put back again.
The application to increase the runway by 190m was first submitted in September 2000. Steve Bambrick, head of environment at the council, explained the reasons for the latest delay. He said: ‘We did target a particular date in March, but we have decided we were not in a position to recommend a decision. Clearly it's a contentious application – by their nature they inevitably take longer to deal with, but not every one takes so many years.’
A decision was initially put back for more information to be provided by the airport. Once that information was received, the council had to carry out another public consultation. Airport bosses maintain that although the work would allow cargo planes to take off with bigger loads, it would not mean larger aircraft or lead to an increase in air traffic. The main feature of the application is to extend the runway primarily to the west, creating less noise for people at the eastern end of the runway, particularly in Kegworth, as the planes land further away.
The main benefit of the plans would see more freight – and more passengers – being accommodated on planes, as they would be able to carry more weight. This would allow firms like DHL, which has a base at the airport, to transport more goods.
An airport spokesman said: ‘It is now eight-and-a-half years since the application was originally submitted. We believe the council has all the information necessary to enable it to reach a decision.’ A decision is now expected 'within the next few months.'
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