Bristol airport campaigners launch fundraising campaign
By vickifitz | Thursday, July 01, 2010, 18:22
THE fight against Bristol Airport’s major expansion plans is far from over Stop Bristol Airport Expansion (SBAE) said today at the launch of its new fundraising campaign.
SBAE is asking the public to donate to a fighting fund to pay legal costs to continue challenge the flawed decision to allow the airport to expand.
North Somerset Council’s approval of Bristol Airport’s planning application in May has now been referred to the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, because some of the development is on green belt land, and because of its climate change impacts.
If the Secretary of State does not grant a public enquiry, the campaigners plan to mount a legal challenge on the basis that there is no current policy to support the decision to approve the plans.
SBAE have been advised that the Bristol airport application is open to legal challenge because it is based on the 2003 Government aviation policy recently ruled by a high court judge as out of date because it is not compatible with the 2008 Climate Change Act.
This could be the first test case for the new coalition Government’s policy on regional airport expansion.
SBAE spokesperson Hilary Burn said: "We have everything left to fight for according to our legal adviser, who is one of the best campaigning lawyers in the country.
"It’s crucial that we maintain this legal support, which is why we are asking for more financial support from local residents.
“The alternative doesn’t bear thinking about. The recent ‘no-fly’ time due to the Icelandic ash cloud has demonstrated very clearly just how huge the noise and traffic impacts caused by the Bristol airports flights are.
"If this development is allowed to go ahead we are facing an airport the size of Luton on our doorstep.
“Despite our having submitted really strong evidence, North Somerset councillors chose to ignore over 5,000 individual objections plus objections from Bristol City and B&NES councils, local health authorities and many other significant organisations.
"We believe their decision is flawed: they have given the green light for car parks in the green belt yet at the same time are fighting to protect green belt land from housing developments.”
To make a donation to the Stop Bristol Airport Expansion campaign, please use the Paypal donation link at www.stopbia.com or send a cheque made out to ‘SBAE’ to Stop Bristol Airport Expansion, c/o The Hub, 3rd Floor, Bush House, 72 Prince Street, Bristol BS1 4QD.
Comments
I really don't mind expansion at the airport as long as it is done in an ecofriendly and sustainable manner, which is contrary to air travel anyway. What I do object strongly too is the late flights and the flight paths. Why can't the council be stronger when granting planning permission? Flights landing at midnight are antisocial, the majority of working people have to get up early, I like to get to bed by 23.00 yet planes are landing while I try to sleep, this is so antisocial not only for me but those who rely on public transport which doesn't operate at that late an hour! Also why do the planes have to fly over weston? Population 74,000, why can't they fly up the estuary then bank into the airport between weston and clevedon? I wish this useless council would sort things out that really do affect people rather than making useless decisions and messing with trivial issues
By ricachang at 14:36 on 04/07/10
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