Post by PB on Mar 27, 2021 10:52:05 GMT
27/03/21
You will probably be aware of the recent deliberations regarding Southampton Airport's request to extend their runway by just 164m (538ft). Southampton Councillors yesterday sat for many hours trying to make their minds up about the application. In an environment where commerce is all important to sustain an area's ever growing community, in our modern technological world where travel is essential for business and the population clamors for holidays 'in the sun', and the means of travel becomes increasingly more environmentally suitable any streaks of common sense would lead you to the conclusion that surely nothing would stand in the way of Southampton's modest requirement? Don't you believe it. The BBC's coverage of the situation follows. Southampton's days as airfield, site of the Spitfire's first flight, and well placed for south coast business catchment may perhaps be in its dying days? It would, perhaps, be interesting to measure the 'pollution' produced by the M25 that runs 24/7 directly abeam the end of Southampton's runway? Aeroplanes and airfields are so easily visible and sadly easy fodder for self righteous bureaucracy who maybe place their 'image' ahead of common sense? Salient facts are lost within the all consuming green mist of PC'dom? Southampton's contribution to global 'pollution' would at most be infinitesimal, but its value to the area it should be serving immeasurable...
BBC REPORT
Southampton Airport runway decision put back after rejection
The plans also include 600 extra parking spaces in the long-stay car park
Plans to extend Southampton Airport's runway have been rejected by planning chiefs after a two-day meeting.
Eastleigh's Local Area Committee voted five to three against the 164m (538ft) extension to allow longer-haul flights.
The matter will now go to a full council meeting on 8 April where the proposals will finally be decided.
Airport bosses said it was "vital" for the site's future but campaigners and some local authorities have raised big objections over noise and pollution.
Responding to the vote, airport operations director Steve Szalay said: "The committee... has gone against the majority of Eastleigh residents who expressed their support during the consultation.
"However, this is far from over. We now welcome the opportunity to present our plans to the full council."
Chris Packham, TV naturalist, recorded a message urging councillors to reject the bigger runway
Writing on Twitter, action group Airport Expansion Opposition (AXO) said: "Just wow. Thank you so much everyone who made their feelings known and especially those brave councillors who chose to go against the officer recommendation.
"The tide is turning. This is not the end. But it's worth celebrating now."
Planning officers recommended to approve the expansion, despite finding the number of people affected by airport noise would go up from 11,450 in 2020 to 46,050 in 2033.
But they also emphasised it would create more than 1,000 jobs and contribute to the local economy.
In the second day of debate, councillors made impassioned speeches about the environment, economy and jobs.
Airport operations director Steve Szalay said he was disappointed by the committee's rejection
Councillor Alex Bourne said it was "a huge decision on our shoulders".
"Whilst the report doesn't say the airport is going to close, it is easy to read between the lines," he said.
Councillor Wayne Irish added: "It's a matter of balance, it's balancing the economy, jobs, the future of our planet."
Councillor Paul Bicknell said refusing the runway extension would not save carbon emissions because people would simply travel to other airports and fly from there instead.
He said: "We don't get a reduction in carbon overall and we put the airport in jeopardy."
But Councillor Daniel Clarke said: "By refusing this application we will not be closing the airport. By voting for refusal we are simply stopping the dramatic impact on carbon emissions."
Conservative MP for Eastleigh Paul Holmes said he was "disappointed" by the decision and called on full council to "save our airport and protect people's livelihoods".
"Failure to do so will be a slap in the face to the people of Eastleigh who overwhelming supported the runway extension to their local airport," he said.
Campaigners - including naturalist Chris Packham - had objected to the expansion since it was officially proposed in 2019 and there have since been four public consultations.
Local authorities, including Southampton and Winchester city councils, Test Valley Borough Council, four parish councils, as well as Bournemouth Airport, Southern Gas Networks and Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, all objected to the plans on the grounds of noise and climate change.
You will probably be aware of the recent deliberations regarding Southampton Airport's request to extend their runway by just 164m (538ft). Southampton Councillors yesterday sat for many hours trying to make their minds up about the application. In an environment where commerce is all important to sustain an area's ever growing community, in our modern technological world where travel is essential for business and the population clamors for holidays 'in the sun', and the means of travel becomes increasingly more environmentally suitable any streaks of common sense would lead you to the conclusion that surely nothing would stand in the way of Southampton's modest requirement? Don't you believe it. The BBC's coverage of the situation follows. Southampton's days as airfield, site of the Spitfire's first flight, and well placed for south coast business catchment may perhaps be in its dying days? It would, perhaps, be interesting to measure the 'pollution' produced by the M25 that runs 24/7 directly abeam the end of Southampton's runway? Aeroplanes and airfields are so easily visible and sadly easy fodder for self righteous bureaucracy who maybe place their 'image' ahead of common sense? Salient facts are lost within the all consuming green mist of PC'dom? Southampton's contribution to global 'pollution' would at most be infinitesimal, but its value to the area it should be serving immeasurable...
BBC REPORT
Southampton Airport runway decision put back after rejection
The plans also include 600 extra parking spaces in the long-stay car park
Plans to extend Southampton Airport's runway have been rejected by planning chiefs after a two-day meeting.
Eastleigh's Local Area Committee voted five to three against the 164m (538ft) extension to allow longer-haul flights.
The matter will now go to a full council meeting on 8 April where the proposals will finally be decided.
Airport bosses said it was "vital" for the site's future but campaigners and some local authorities have raised big objections over noise and pollution.
Responding to the vote, airport operations director Steve Szalay said: "The committee... has gone against the majority of Eastleigh residents who expressed their support during the consultation.
"However, this is far from over. We now welcome the opportunity to present our plans to the full council."
Chris Packham, TV naturalist, recorded a message urging councillors to reject the bigger runway
Writing on Twitter, action group Airport Expansion Opposition (AXO) said: "Just wow. Thank you so much everyone who made their feelings known and especially those brave councillors who chose to go against the officer recommendation.
"The tide is turning. This is not the end. But it's worth celebrating now."
Planning officers recommended to approve the expansion, despite finding the number of people affected by airport noise would go up from 11,450 in 2020 to 46,050 in 2033.
But they also emphasised it would create more than 1,000 jobs and contribute to the local economy.
In the second day of debate, councillors made impassioned speeches about the environment, economy and jobs.
Airport operations director Steve Szalay said he was disappointed by the committee's rejection
Councillor Alex Bourne said it was "a huge decision on our shoulders".
"Whilst the report doesn't say the airport is going to close, it is easy to read between the lines," he said.
Councillor Wayne Irish added: "It's a matter of balance, it's balancing the economy, jobs, the future of our planet."
Councillor Paul Bicknell said refusing the runway extension would not save carbon emissions because people would simply travel to other airports and fly from there instead.
He said: "We don't get a reduction in carbon overall and we put the airport in jeopardy."
But Councillor Daniel Clarke said: "By refusing this application we will not be closing the airport. By voting for refusal we are simply stopping the dramatic impact on carbon emissions."
Conservative MP for Eastleigh Paul Holmes said he was "disappointed" by the decision and called on full council to "save our airport and protect people's livelihoods".
"Failure to do so will be a slap in the face to the people of Eastleigh who overwhelming supported the runway extension to their local airport," he said.
Campaigners - including naturalist Chris Packham - had objected to the expansion since it was officially proposed in 2019 and there have since been four public consultations.
Local authorities, including Southampton and Winchester city councils, Test Valley Borough Council, four parish councils, as well as Bournemouth Airport, Southern Gas Networks and Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, all objected to the plans on the grounds of noise and climate change.