"Lydd Airport Extension Approved: Crazy-paving over the Garden of England" (CPRE)

Despite Paul Kehoe - Chief Exec. of Birmingham Airport - spilling the beans that (in his opinion) Britain has twice the number of airports that it needs or that can be supported economically and that we “have a choice about whether we should go on holiday. Why should the taxpayer subsidise it?”

So I guess the knock-on effect of the Conservative(led) coalition government tearing up planning restrictions in a desperate bid for private investment will be taxpayers picking up the tab somewhere else..... That makes so much sense.

Lydd Airport is on the edge of Romney Marsh

On Thursday 10 April the Government confirmed that an extension to Lydd Airport is to go ahead.

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Lydd Airport Extension Approved: Crazy-paving over theGarden of England - CPRE

The Government has confirmed a decision on the future of Lydd Airport. This afternoon, the Secretary of State's Decision was made public: the airport will be extended. Planning permission was also granted to build a new terminal.

This decision will irreversibly damage the wildlife habitat and beautiful landscape unique to the area - the Dungeness peninsula is one of the most sensitive wildlife habitats in the world.

Neil Sinden, Director of Policy and Campaigns for the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), says: ‘This is a terrible decision which threatens one of the few remaining areas of rural tranquillity in heavily pressured South East, and in a county once proudly described as the Garden of England.  And it will not just alarm environmentalists.   There were many in the aviation sector who considered this scheme to be nonsensical and a non-starter.  If there are any economic benefits, which is unlikely, they will be heavily outweighed by the environmental damage that it will cause on so many levels.  Campaigners are bound to consider all legal options to have this disturbing decision overturned.’

Lydd Airport approval is a disaster for bugs - Buglife

Buglife is extremely disappointed that the Government has approved the expansion of Lydd Airport in Kent.

The neighbouring site at Dungeness is known to be home to a number of rare and endangered invertebrates including the Sussex Emerald moth.

 

Sussex Emerald moth (Thalera fimbrialis) © Roger Key

Alice Farr, Buglife Planning Manager said "We have opposed these plans for a number of years due to the impact of the airport on Dungeness, a habitat of international importance. This decision is a clear signal from the Government that the environment is of low priority and could be an indication of future decisions on development that are still to be taken".  Alice said "Dungeness is internationally important as the largest shingle foreland in Europe. The area is of national and arguably international importance for invertebrates; including the Medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis), the Sussex Emerald moth (Thalera fimbrialis) and significant bumblebee populations including the UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority Brown-banded carder bee (Bombus humilis). Developing the airport so close to this site will have a detrimental affect for invertebrates

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Lydd Airport extension decision prompts legal challenge 

From http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/346770-lydd-airport-extension-decision-prompts-legal-challenge

Last modified: 29 May 2013

Image: Ben Hall

The RSPB has issued a legal challenge to the Government's decision to allow the expansion of Lydd Airport in Kent.

Dungeness is one of the most important wildlife sites in the world; it is protected at global, European and UK levels. It is home to species found hardly anywhere else in the UK. It is also a crossroads for migrating birds stopping off on their epic global journeys.

Chris Corrigan, RSPB South East Regional Director, said: “The RSPB has been protecting birds and the wildlife of Dungeness for over a century - our commitment to the area is deep and profound.

“Over recent years, our concerns about the impact of expanding nearby Lydd Airport led to the need to argue our case at a Public Inquiry.

“The inspector found in favour of the Airport's proposals - and his report was completely  endorsed in the Secretaries of State for Communities and Local Government and for Transport’s Decision. We are profoundly concerned about this decision as it seems perverse.

“After careful consideration we have now issued a legal challenge to the Secretaries of State’s decision. The stakes are too high to risk the future of one of our best and most important places for nature without testing the basis for this decision which we consider to be flawed.”