Press Release - City Airport Expansion Oppostion Lines Up for Today's Parliamentary Adjournment Debate

PRESS RELEASE :- NO EMBARGO : 15th DECEMBER 2009.

SW-ESSEX FIGHT THE FLIGHTS (FTF)- LONDON CITY AIRPORT (LCA)

CITY AIRPORT EXPANSION OPPOSITION LINES UP
FOR TODAY'S PARLIAMENTARY ADJOURNMENT DEBATE

Redbridge and Waltham Forest were joined on Wednesday 9th December by neighbouring Tower Hamlets, becoming the latest London Borough Council to come out against the expansion of City Airport by unanimously agreeing a forthright resolution.

The decision comes just days after local MP's James Brokenshire (Hornchurch) and Lee Scott (Ilford North) both re-affirmed their opposition.

Mr. Brokenshire successfully obtained today's adjournment debate and tabled a series of Parliamentary Questions concerning the scandulously undemocratic decision of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), recently discovered to have re-directed LCA flight-paths over parts of Havering and Redbridge from 7th May 2009. An edict which will not be reviewed for a year.

Reacting to that news, FTF SW-Essex Coordinator and local resident, Steve Pullum said:
"The flights now come right over my house and i've never even been given the opportunity to influence the decision or comment. CAA have forced through the changes by dictat and local residents are suffering the noise and environmental consequencies". "I would urge local people and Havering Council to follow Redbridge's lead and respond to the Airport's Noise Review and also challenge the CAA". Mr Pullum continued: “They've ignored both the views of local people and the science of climate change. The fact is that we need to stop airport expansion if we’re to have any hope of reducing CO2 emissions in this country ”.

Late last year Newham Council gave City Airport permission to increase the number of flights using the airport by 50%. That decision, however, is being challenged in the courts by Judicial Review by local coalition campaign group, Fight the Flights.

ENDS

FOR FURTHER COMMENT PLEASE RING
07708 794665 (SW-Essex FTF)
OR 07964 300558 (FTF Press)

Notes for Editors:

1. The Newham Council approved, original planning application by London City Airport was to increase the number of flights from 76,000 flights to 120,000 p.a. is the subject of the Judicial Review.

2. The decision was made despite the fact that the initial application did not contain accurate data on noise going back nearly a decade, in breach of planning agreements.

3. LCA has now drafted its noise action plan in response to a directive published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). That directive requires airport operators to prepare draft noise action plans designed to manage noise issues arising from aircraft departing from and arriving at airports. 4. Upon conclusion of the public consultation, LCA will collate and consider all responses to the noise action plan. 5. Consultation responses can be submitted electronically by emailing Kellie.Heath@londoncityairport.com for information, or, by accessing http://www.londoncityairport.com/LandingPage.aspx?Page=noiseactionplan. Alternatively postal responses go to: Kellie Heath, London City Airport, City Aviation HouseRoyal Docks, London E16 2PB.

6. The consultation deadline is 15th January 2010.

7.Fight The Flights
Blogsite: http://londoncityairportfighttheflights.blogspot.com/Website: www.fighttheflights.com