Lydd Airport Planning Meeting DELAYED by Shepway Council until September

Shepway Council have today postponed the Council meeting to discuss the planning applications regarding London Ashford Airport (Lydd) from 9th July to 23rd September [Update - now moved to 24th September to avoid clash with Lib Dem Party Conference]. Shepway Chief Executive Alistair Stewart agreed to the re-scheduling following a request from the lawyers acting for the owner of the airport asking for postponement of publication of the report on the two planning applications and to reschedule the meeting date.

In an email to Councillors today, Alistair Stewart confirmed that the report will still be published on 1st July as planned, but the meeting rescheduled to allow for more time to consider the report from the District Council on the applications which is described as "long and complex".

Lib Dem Shepway Councillor Tim Prater commented:

"The report when it's issued will give the Council's opinion on how the airport applications should be decided in line with the law. Although I fully expect the report will be long, I don't understand how a further delay in this decision will help. Many people and organisations will have spent a lot of time and expense on getting ready for the 9th of July - only to be told that the meeting will now be delayed.

"After so much pressure from the airport owners to get the application heard and huge lobbying from both sides, it seem very strange that the owners are asking for the decision to be delayed at this time when the report has not even been released to Councillors yet."