Total opposition to second runway plans

Uttlesford District Council has reaffirmed its total opposition to a second runway at Stansted Airport after the Government decided to call-in BAA’s planning applications.

The council questions how the government can deal with the Generation 2 (G2) application when it still hasn’t managed to make a decision on Generation 1 (G1) – the application to increase passenger numbers on the existing runway at the airport which went to an inquiry after the council turned down permission in November 2006.

Last week the government announced a further delay in the outcome of the G1 inquiry after it launched a further six week consultation period to look at issues around night noise.

Today’s call-in by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears means that instead of the 38 applications related to the second runway being decided at local level through Uttlesford District Council’s Development Control Committee, Mrs Blears and Secretary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly will make the decision following a Public Inquiry run by the national Planning Inspectorate which will look at the evidence, hear submissions and make recommendations on the proposals.

It is still of vital importance that the public continues to write to the council to voice their views on the applications. Earlier this year Uttlesford set a revised deadline of September 26 to receive representations and that deadline remains in place, although the council still requests that comments are sent as soon as possible so that it can analyse them.

Submissions received will help the council shape its case at the public inquiry.

The fact that the applications have been called in confirms the council’s view that there are major implications surrounding the plans, which it believes will have a hugely detrimental impact on the quality for people living near the airport and beyond.

The council will fight the second runway proposals at the public inquiry as part of a four authority team, working with Essex County Council and also including Hertfordshire County Council and East Herts District Council.

The call-in was announced by a letter from Go-East, the Government office for the East of England. It says that the Secretary of State considers the second runway proposal “is one that she ought to decide for herself because she considers that the proposal conflicts with national policies on important matters”.

Among the areas of concern to the Secretary of State are:

The impact on the environment with regard to emissions and energy use
Issues around air quality, particularly with regard to damage of Hatfield Forest
The adequacy of transport links
The effect on historic buildings
Noise

Cllr Jim Ketteridge, Leader of Uttlesford District Council, said: “It really is unacceptable that the Government have decided to call in BAA’s second runway planning applications before publishing the outcome of the appeal against Uttlesford’s refusal of the application to lift the limits on passenger numbers and aircraft movements on the existing runway.

“More than ever we must mobilise public opinion if we are to avoid this area from becoming totally urbanised and industrialised with the type of road congestion that one encounters on every day of the week around Heathrow Airport.

“Uttlesford District Council with its Local Authority partners will be doing all it can to fight this threat to the quality of life of people living and working in the area.”

Cllr Peter Wilcock, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: "Although I welcome the fact that the application has been called in, it is clear from the current trend in reducing numbers of passengers using Stansted that this application was premature, and that the Inspectors will be able to see all the evidence for this at the inquiry.

Cllr Elizabeth Godwin, Leader of the Independent group, said: “This simply hardens the attitude of everyone who has been opposing the second runway.

“It changes nothing but it makes us all the more determined to fight and to put our case in the best possible way. In the light of global warming and the fact that big business does not want to come here anyway, we have a very good chance.

“We want everyone to continue to write and to make their views known to the Government. This runway on Essex farmland must never happen. The fight is on to ensure that this threat to our area and our homes is removed forever.”

The public inquiry is expected to start in Spring 2009 and last for a year or more.

To respond to the applications, write to: Jeremy Pine, Uttlesford District Council, London Road, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4ER