Some concerns have been raised over the proposal
Fears in North Herts over Luton Airport growth
By Laura Burge
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
5:00 PM
A PROPOSAL to double the number of people using Luton Airport has been criticised by North Herts residents, neighbouring councils and campaign groups, who claim it would cause environmental and noise problems.
What the residents are saying
“This will have a seriously adverse effect on this area both in terms of increased aircraft movements on noise and pollution.
“I would not normally wish to see an increase in my council tax but would willingly fork out to see NHDC and Herts County Council oppose this planning application all the way to the Supreme Court, even to Europe, if it makes Luton bleed.
“It seems odd that Luton should want to expand its airport at a time of the UK’s increasing economic stringency and when there is less disposable income for luxuries like holidays abroad.”
Robert Sunderland, Little Wymondley
“I am very concerned that Luton Borough Council and its affiliate, though so-called independent, Luton Airport Authority are planning a dramatic expansion, almost doubling the number of planes flying over Stevenage in the next 10 years.
“What is not mentioned is the additional threat to the physical and mental health of residents living beneath the flight paths. This is an unacceptable price to pay.”
Don Courtman, Stevenage
London Luton Airport Limited (LLAL) and Luton Borough Council (LBC) announced on Monday that it would seek to increase the capacity of the airport to 18m passengers per annum, up from the 9.6m million expected to use it this year.
It said that a public consultation would be launched on Monday, February 6, when more detailed plans will be presented. A planning application could be submitted as early as April.
But North Herts District Council councillor David Barnard, who also campaigned against LBC’s proposed Century Park expansion, criticised LBC and LLAL for failing to inform neighbouring councils and North Herts residents before anyone else, claiming officers first found out about the plans when they appeared on the television.
“I’ve consulted with my parish councils and have received no indication that any of them have been informed at all about any proposals. That’s not very neighbourly,” he told The Comet.
How will it be achieved?
LLAL said: “There will be more flights, but we are at the beginning of a consultation and a journey, and as soon we have a more exact number this will be fed into the consultation process.
“It should be noted that advances in aircraft technology - which will see airlines using more seats for the same size of aircraft – will mean that the average number of passengers per aircraft will increase, so the increase in flights will be proportionally lower than the increase in passengers carried.”
It also added that there were no specific plans at time to add more night flights, but did say that flight paths may have to be changed to accommodate the influx.
“We haven’t seen any plans. I think it’s a smack in the face. I don’t believe they are giving residents of North Herts the respect and consideration that they so richly deserve.”
Cllr Tom Brindley, NHDC’s portfolio holder for planning, transport and enterprise, added: “We fully recognise the economic benefits that the airport brings to Luton and the surrounding areas. It is essential for our communities who live in the flightpath to the east of Luton that the impacts of the development, in terms of environment, noise and transport, are properly understood and considered. We have not seen any details of their proposals yet so we can pass no comment at this stage.
“We note that the consultation runs for four weeks and are very concerned that within just a month of the consultation ending a planning application will be submitted to Luton Borough Council. We will be making strong representations that there should be full consultation by LLAL with the communities to the east of Luton.”
The proposals, which LBC claims will create up to 6,000 new jobs, has also been met with criticism from Luton and District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (LADACAN).
It could also be that it will seek to increase capacity to 30m passengers per annum at a later date.
A spokesman said: “The imposed four week pre-planning application consultation period is an insult to those living in those parts of Luton and the surrounding areas, who would be most affected by the inevitably accelerated levels of noise, pollution and traffic congestion that this scale of expansion would generate.
“The jobs myth is again wheeled out in the hugely inflated figure of 6,000. The widely-evidenced ratio of airport job-creation is certainly not more than 60 jobs created by each extra one million passengers. Our sums make that just over 400.
“The consultation period must be extended to give all affected an opportunity to access information and have input.”
Cllr Sharon Taylor, leader of Stevenage Borough Council, said that the council had agreed in a meeting to ask representatives from LBC to give a presentation in the town, so residents could be informed on how they may be affected.
She added that the jobs would be a welcome boost to the local economy.
Although the detailed plans have not yet been revealed to the public, LBC have labelled them “ambitious”.
It says that it would continue to use the current single runway, considering including aircraft taxiways, roads, airport car parking and the passenger terminal, for modification.
LBC councillor Robin Harris, who is also chairman of LLAL, said: “The benefits that will flow from the airport’s development will be realised in the local, regional and national economies.
“We are committed to ensure the airport will continue to be a good neighbour and any growth in passenger numbers is managed in a responsible manner. Impacts on the environment, noise and road traffic flows will be fully evaluated as part of the process to ensure the airport’s development continues to be as sustainable as it has always been.”
The consultation will be launched via the website www.futureLuToN.co.uk
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4 comments
Having recently sacked 29 of her own staff I find the comments by Cllr Taylor on jobs distasteful. Furthermore instead inviting LLAL to give their glossy twisted presentation she should get her officers to crawl over the proposals and do a hard nosed analysis of the benefits and disadvantages given that the whole of Stevenage is on the flight path.
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patrick newman
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The four week consultation to be imposed is ludicrous given the nearly doubling of capacity and the inevitable implications for infrastructure throughout the LutonN Herts area. I wonder if such a short period would stand up to legal challenge.
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patrick newman
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
"Luton Airport added that it would also consider expanding the airport further to be able to handle 30 MILLION PASSENGERS a year but added that “this does not form part of the proposals being consulted on in February”........................ Always the thin end of the wedge eh Mr Harris?
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Bob
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
"Luton Airport added that it would also consider expanding the airport further to be able to handle 30 MILLION PASSENGERS a year but added that “this does not form part of the proposals being consulted on in February”........................ Always the thin end of the wedge eh Mr Harris?
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Bob
Tuesday, January 17, 2012