Referendums reject London Ashford Airport plans
06.04.07
People living near London Ashford Airport (Lydd) in Kent have voted against its plans for expansion in two town referendums.
The airport wants to build a new terminal building to handle up to 500,000 passengers a year - the equivalent of 10 flights a day. It has also submitted a planning application for two runway extensions, together 444m (1,456ft) in length.
More than a third of eligible electors in Lydd and New Romney voted on Wednesday on whether they supported proposals to expand the airport. In Lydd, 741 were in favour and 916 against while in New Romney 396 were in favour and 1,288 against.
The two polls, held simultaneously, were organised by Shepway District Council, the planning authority which is considering applications from the airport. Bosses at London Ashford have criticised the polls as a waste of money, saying a public consultation was carried out.
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