Prater to Pickles: Public Enquiry needed on Lydd Airport Expansion Plans

Shepway Councillor Tim Prater has written to the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, Eric Pickles, asking him to require a Public Enquiry to determine the planning applications for the expansion of Lydd / London Ashford Airport.

Lib Dem Cllr Prater wrote after the Government Office of the South East (GOSE) directed Shepway District Council not to give planning permission for the expansion of Lydd Airport until 30 June, to allow more time for the Secretary of State to consider the application. Shepway Council had considered the applications in March and controversially approved them by 27 votes to 12.

Tim Prater commented:

"I see this as a big test of the new Government's environmental credentials. To allow the passing of these applications without a full public enquiry would be to fly in the face of advice from Shepway Council's own officers, its specialist consultants, Natural England and the RSPB amongst others.

"Mr Pickles has a real chance to demonstrate a strong commitment to the environment by calling for a public enquiry to fully test if there really would be no adverse impact on the Dungeness protected areas - a point that was not proved during Shepway Council's planning meeting."

The text of the email to Eric Pickles (sent 11 June) reads:

Dear Mr Pickles.

Firstly congratulations on your new role in Government.

I am writing regarding the Lydd / London Ashford Airport Extension Planning Applications, which you are considering under section 77 of the town and Planning Act 1990 on whether they should be referred to your for determination.

Having been in attendance (and voting as a District Councillor) at the Shepway District Council meeting which considered these applications locally, I would strongly urge you to have this decision referred to you as the passing of the application was against the advice of both officers and the consultant. The Council's resolution on March 3 to approve plans for a runway extension and a new terminal building was against the advice of its own planning officers and the conclusion set out in its own Appropriate Assessment.

I am aware that Natural England have also written to GOSE requesting this decision be called in for a range of reasons, but especially that the applicant has been unable to demonstrate that the proposals will not have an adverse affect on the integrity of the protected sites. The RSPB also believes that the decision by Shepway councillors potentially contravenes key elements of UK and EU laws, and that it should be called in by you for determination at a public inquiry.

In referendums held by Shepway District Council in 2007, 75% of residents of New Romney said NO to expansion, and 55% of residents who live on New Romney Coast and Lydd said NO.

As you'll know, there are a range of protected sites in the area, including:

• Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
• Dungeness Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
• Dungeness to Pett Level Special Protection Area (SPA)
• Proposed Dungeness to Pett Level Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar site)

To lawfully pass this application, it would have to be proved beyond reasonable doubt that these applications would have no impact on these sites. That case was simply not proved, and the decision made ignored the advice its own advisers, officers, Natural England, the RSPB and others.

This new Government has to demonstrate it is willing to enforce and support environmental legislation, and to protect areas of special interest and conservation. To allow the passing of this application without a public enquiry would instantly and fundamentally undermine the new Government's environmental credentials.

Finally, although the name "London Ashford Airport" seems to suggest it has regional airport status, it has no rail and weak road connections to the rest of the country. The airport has been operating massively under even existing capacity for years, and new services using the infrastructure currently in place are not attracting support, with proposed new services to Jersey being withdrawn due to poor sales (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/10287716.stm). If the Government is to promote regional airports to direct traffic from London, Kent Manston Airport has significantly better infrastructure, and is already the subject of proposals from Kent County Council to boost links to London still further through fast rail services.

I sincerely hope you will require that these applications are subject to a public enquiry.

Regards,

Tim Prater