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Lydd Airport expansion given thumbs up by council
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Protestors gathered outside the meeting
What the new terminal will look like
Councillors gave the go ahead to Lydd Airport’s multi-million pound expansion plans after a seven-hour meeting which ran into the early hours.

Members voted 27-12 in favour of the applications, for a 444 metre runway extension and passenger terminal, going against planning officers’ recommendations.

The officers’ objections were based mainly on ecological grounds, particularly on the effects on birds and vegetation in designated conservation areas.

Earlier, protestors both for and against the scheme had gathered outside Shepway’s Civic Centre in Folkestone, holding banners and waving placards.

Shepway MP Michael Howard led the line of speakers who addressed the full council meeting, reminding them that they were not obliged to follow the officers’ lead.

Mr Howard, who hours earlier announced he had negotiated a deal with the airport to compensate affected residents, said:

“It is clear to me that these are issues on which you the councillors are free to make up your own mind.

“You are free to come to the conclusion, as I have, that you can be reasonably satisfied that there is no reasonable scientific doubt that the integrity of the designated areas….would be adversely affected by these proposals.”

His said his recent compensation agreement was “not perfect” but would provide a degree of reassurance. He also rejected claims by action group LAAG the deal was an acknowledgement that property values would be reduced.

He said: “Jobs are scarce on Romney Marsh. Unemployment’s too high, deprivation is too high.

“These proposals offer the opportunity of regenerating the economy of the Marsh. We can and we should care about the future of the wildlife of the Marsh but we can and we should care about the future of its people too.”

Earlier planning barrister Matthew Horton QC, representing anti-expansion lobbyists LAAG, said the proposals were “damaging, dangerous and dispiriting.”

He told the council: “LAAG urges members that their duty is to protect the Marsh and not to jeopardise its long-term value for the sake of alleged jobs.

“Alleged because there may be no net gain, given that the airport may harm the tourist economy and the jobs it supports.”

Other speakers in favour of the proposal included Channel Chamber of Commerce manager Peter Hobbs and local resident Caroline Chambers.

Those speaking against included Greatstone Primary School governor Paul Black and the RSPB’s Chris Corrigan.

District ward members for Lydd, Victoria Dawson and Clive Goddard, also voiced their approval.

Carole Waters of New Romney Town offered her support while Val Loseby of New Romney Coast spoke out against.

County councillor for Romney Marsh William Richardson also addressed the meeting in favour of the proposals and said priority must be given to people.

A team from Lydd Airport, led by managing director Jonathan Gordon, then gave a 15-minute presentation on the benefits their proposals would bring.

Following an adjournment, councillors debated the merits of the applications between them.

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group Lynne Beaumont said that 4-11 year old children at Greatstone would have their education disrupted by Boeing 737s flying overhead.

Ms Beaumont also said planning officers had based their findings on purely scientific fact and an open mind, not by trying to sell a business.

Tory Cabinet member for planning Hugh Barker reminded the council not to repeat the mistake when drug company Pfizer had their application for offices in Folkestone turned down and the subsequent lost job opportunities.

Conservative Jennifer Hollingsbee also said the majority of students at the Marsh Academy in New Romney, where she works, were in favour of the development as post-16 students were finding it extremely difficult to find jobs.

Eventually a vote was taken based on a proposal by Cabinet member for economic development Malcolm Dearden, which adopted some of the airport’s own findings. Members voted 27-12 to approve the applications, with two abstentions.

Following the meeting Lydd managing director Jonathan Gordon said the approval for the £25 million investment plan was “a victory for the people of Shepway.”

He said: “We put forward a compelling case for allowing the controlled development of the airport and when councillors took stock of the overwhelming body of evidence in front of them, they were persuaded to vote in a positive way.

“They have made the right choice for the future of our community.”

Louise Barton of LAAG said it will call in the decision for a public inquiry:

"We are confident that the decision will be overturned in a public inquiry on the correct interpretation of the European Habitats Regulations.

"Other important factors include nuclear safety, an issue which was dismissed by Shepway council.

"LAAG believes that the risk of crash damage is too high and can demonstrate that the methodology used to assess crash damage risk cannot account for the high specific risk at Lydd Airport."

Last night’s meeting was broadcast live on the Shepway council website, where over 2,000 people logged on to watch the proceedings, together with a public showing at the Marsh Academy.
POSTED: 04/03/2010 05:10:46

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Comments:
Added: Friday 12/03/2010 09:04:43 UK
A disasterous decision which shows the contempt our council holds for its voters. Well, they have lost my vote! It is now vital to hold a public enquiry where common sense, environmental concerns and regard for the quality of life on the marsh must surely prevail.
Karen, Greatstone, Kent
Added: Saturday 06/03/2010 16:33:55 UK
It is a shameful and bad decision for Romney Marsh. It will wreck the environment, wildlife habitats, noise and clogged up roads.
Push the GOSE for a Public Inquiry.
helen, dymchurch, kent
Added: Friday 05/03/2010 09:36:46 UK
Why is it everyone who does not live near the airport state they are all for it, strange that. The locals who it effects stated NO 64% against it. People who it does not effect should keep out of the argument. Their property values and quality of life is not effected . Think of other people now and again.
Daz, New Romney, Kent
Added: Thursday 04/03/2010 17:40:51 UK
Well done Shepway Council in approving by a sizeable majority the Lydd Airport expansion. In doing so it appears that they have listened to optimistic voices in favour of a modern airport here in Kent - with all the opportunites for airtravel and employment it will offer - and not the pessimistic voices of doomsday environmentalists and such like. A wonderful decision for Kent and its people.
peter ferns, hythe, kent
Added: Thursday 04/03/2010 13:54:50 UK
The decision by Shepway District Council to allow planning permission for Lydd Airport expansion last week shows just how myopic and short-termist they are. It also shows that their signing of the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change is also a total sham and mere lip-service. They should withdraw or be dropped from it immediately.

Further the last minute decision to back the airport by MP Michael Howard also shows just how shallow his concerns for the environment over the years have been, and confirms the recent surveys of the Tory Party which show how little real concern they have for the now pressing need to tackle climate change despite the rhetoric from leader David Cameron.

That said however, the vast majority of opponants, whether locals or campaigning groups, will now lodge very many objections to the decision to push the scheme to a Public Inquiry having very clear grounds to do so. It is very likely that Lydd Airport will then loose this.

Lastly had the airport decided, given the substantial opposition, to withdraw their plans early and then developed a far more diverse portfolio of businesses on the site; such as the long suggested renewables tech industries and green tourism ideas; they would by now have been well into developing such and thus starting to provide the jobs they say they want to create. It is not too late for them to do so though by withdrawing their expansion plans even now.


Ray Duff, Folkestone, Kent
Added: Thursday 04/03/2010 10:28:49 UK
A disastrous and short sighted decision. Local councillors pressured by a big gun.
The councillor trumpeting "people come first" should examine his own words. Airport expansion is no good for the environment. Therefore no good for people.
Air travel is dying. This is about short term profit for long term damage. Shameful. This is the 21st century not the 19th.
Joss, Whitstable, Kent
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