Airport Meeting - Questions and Answers

Brief report on items covered at Airport meeting in Leigh – 6th May 2009.

There were two people taking notes, and this is an amalgamation of their notes. This might not be 100% accurate, and we apologise if there are inaccuracies or omissions.

The responses by Cllr. Lamb (JL) and Andrew Meddle (AM) are in italics

Jobs

Will the Council review the job creation figures in light of economic climate? Despite comments from current companies that they will expand they have made significant redundancies lately.

JL – will be kept under review but some developments i.e. hotel/business park job figures will not change.

 

There are 7,380 new jobs projected by 2021 of which 1,180 will be aviation related and 6,200 will be in the business park. How many of these jobs will be lost if there is no runway extension?

JL - Runway extension makes only marginal contribution to job numbers.

Safety

1                    Where will planes land in an emergency?

2                    There is no ILS over Leigh – disgraceful

3                    Park and ride would be within safety zone – against advice

4                    Brent geese flocks coming in November, departing in April each year

Section 106

The existing 106 is up for reconsideration in July – why are Councils not renegotiating to protect residents?

AM – this is a RDC document and relates to the station etc not the airport.

Will Southend BC ban any old aircraft arriving and leaving during the day and totally ban night flights

Done Deal

Is the airport expansion a ‘Done Deal’?

JL – No. He explained that the current round of consultation was an addition to the process.  After this round there would be a further review and a final document on consultation and then submission to Government and there would then be a public inquiry and an Inspector would take the final decision.

Stobart's position

Can they pull out?

JL -  suspect not as they are now the owners. 

Stobarts won't use modern planes for freight there should be a total ban on night flights and older jets.

JL explained the current position re flight numbers and the fact that the lease restrictions on planes no longer apply as those planes don't fly anymore.

Objection to any animal flights

Agreed.  

 

What type of freight is considered

JL – most freight will be high quality, such as medical supplies and fresh fruit, and will be stowed aboard passenger flights. This will be transported by small vans not lorries Stobarts say it will not be a freight hub

Will Stobart’s use the quieter modern aircraft at night

Runway

Why not change the orientation?

MK – prevailing winds inappropriate

Property Values/Council Tax

1                    Effect on house prices – will there be compensation?

No

2                    Will Council tax be reviewed?

Can apply but doubtful would be agreed.

Traffic

Road system can't cope

A127 and A13 cannot be widened to meet the increased traffic and Stobart’s lorries

JL explained improvements proposed with funding from various sourcesMain sources all stemmed back to tax payer but they would be looking to get Stobart's to make a hefty contribution.

Park and ride is in wrong place

CAA Licences

Would they be reviewed in light of new development?

AM – currently being reviewed.

Brent Geese – Bird strike

AM – sites are EU designated as protected.

SBC Position

Council derelict in not taking into account first phase of consultation i.e. the depth of opposition - without evidential substantiation.

Schools

Effect on schools – already a problem will get worse

Pollution

Already air pollution from current activities and noise especially at night.

JL – will be quieter cleaner planes!

Safety Zones

Will these be published?

AM – currently under review by CAA - note  Zones could contract if more modern planes used.

Terrorism 

Previous history

What has changed since previous rejection in 2005?

Passengers

Passenger numbers declining – recent reports.

Effects of climate change etc lead to less flights will be left with a white elephant.

Business Parks

Plenty of space in town for offices i.e. Victoria Avenue – no need for out of centre business park.

What are the benefits for Leigh and is the proposed expansion ‘Good for Leigh’?

JL – Benefits are for the whole of the Southend borough. For example the proposed expansion will help us to meet the Government targets for job creation in SE Essex.

What percentage of the Southend’s population is needed to object to the proposed expansion for the two authorities to reconsider their preferred option

AM – it is the different points of objection raised and NOT the number of residents that object that matters