Airport expansion plans head back to council

By Rob Virtue on July 8, 2009 3:18 PM |

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Anti-expansion protesters will head to Newham Town Hall on Wednesday night for the latest meeting on City Airport's plans to increase flights.

The proposals, which will see the airport's flight cap increase from 80,000 to 120,000 a year, were approved by Newham councillors last October, but more objections will be heard at an "update meeting" in East Ham.

The council officers' report has already dismissed the new objections and recommended that councillors now wave the application through.

But the expected decision will not dissuade campaigners, many of who are likely to speak at the meeting.

Chair of Fight the Flights Anne-Marie Griffin said the group's lawyers were studying whether the council had made any unlawful decisions, with the possibility of legal action to follow.

She said: "Fight the Flights will be continuing to campaign, and step up the campaign, to stop any future expansion at London City Airport."

Since the council's decision last October, Friends of the Earth has put in three late consultation responses on issues such as whether the council has properly considered the Race Relations Act in the application.

The campaign group has also raised concerns about climate change caused by expansion, as well as the effect of a flight increase on air quality.

The council's report rejected all arguments.