Residents East Midlands Airport runway fears
26.07.08
Jumbo jets could be flying over the rooftops of Burton and South Derbyshire communities if East Midlands Airport is given the go-ahead for a runway extension, the Burton Mail reports. Airport bosses have also been accused by objectors of having 'other motives' for wanting to extend a runway to allow cargo planes to take off carrying larger loads.
The airport submitted plans to lengthen a 2,893m runway by 190m to North West Leicestershire District Council in 2000. Amid accusations that it is dragging its heels, the authority has now said it hopes to make a decision on the application in the next six months.
The airport's updated environmental statement for the application said: ‘The extension would allow these aircrafts to depart at slightly heavier weights and support the airport's objective of securing commercially attractive long-haul services.’
The news that the application will soon be determined has reignited objections from campaigners, who have accused the airport of using the extension plan to attract larger aircraft. Steve Charlish, chairman of campaign group Demand which has been campaigning for the Government to cap the number of night flights to and from the airport, told the newspaper that the extension would cause more misery for residents.
He said: ‘It just doesn't add up. It's costing £10 million but they are saying it will only affect a few aircraft. There have to be other motives. We think they are looking to attract fully laden Boeing 747s and long haul flights, and that will increase the noise. Residents living miles away from the airport will suffer and this is bad news for the locals.’
South Derbyshire MP Mark Todd urged planning chiefs to impose additional conditions if the application is passed to reduce the 'nuisance' caused to residents. He told the newspaper: ‘North West Leicestershire are not desperately keen to determine this application. I have argued that the council needs to press ahead and should consider imposing additional constraints to the application to try to reduce some of the nuisance that the airport generates.’
East Midlands Airport failed to respond to the newspaper's questions at the time of going to press.
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book east midlands airport hotel or east midlands airport car parking at the lowest price, click on these links to two great east midlands airport car parking and east midlands airport hotel price comparison pages.
