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Campaigners blast 'brazen' expansion of City Airport
Peter Dominiczak9 Jul 2009
A council's decision to allow the expansion of London City Airport has been criticised by green campaigners.
The airport will accommodate nearly 50,000 extra flights per year after the project is complete.
Newham council confirmed the planning application last night and claimed it will pump an additional £26million into the local economy.
However, campaigners have criticised the decision to increase the number of flights in and out of the airport to 120,00 from 73,000. Friends of the Earth, who have challenged the council over the plans, expressed its disappointment and questioned whether the local community will benefit.
One of its London campaigners, Jenny Bates, said: "Giving the go-ahead to expansion of London City Airport is in brazen conflict with the urgent need to tackle climate change.
"Some councils are streaking ahead by taking steps to reduce air pollution and cut carbon emissions, but Newham is straggling behind by approving more flights from the airport.
"There are often exaggerated claims made by the council about potential job increases, but it often doesn't help the local unemployed population who need it most. It is not too late though. Campaigners will have to consider their legal options now."
She added: "The Mayor [Boris Johnson] should be standing by his pledge to make London the greenest city in the world and pushing for cleaner transport alternatives such as improved fast rail links."
A Newham council spokesman said that early morning flights will not be increased and said that there will be strict restrictions on night and weekend operations, adding: "This decision will pump an additional £26 million into the local economy, create new jobs for local residents, boost tourism in the area and also create the potential for further investment in local infrastructure."
He said that residents' concerns had been taken into account and that flights would be capped at 120,000 per year.
Reader views (13)
"Jobs" from London City Airport have been halved. Also it's know that Sir Richard Gooding said it would be hard to employ people in Newham as they are so badly educated. (and I've put that in a nicer way than he did at a meeting he held with Sir Robin Wales a couple of years ago.
The only jobs that will be created are in coffee shops and newsagents as they are introducing automated check in and automated baggage handling, no people required. It's just more spin.
- Concerned In Newham, Newham, 05/10/2009 08:31
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Actually with World Health Org researchg and real evidence of noise and jet pollution impacts on health the expansion of airports is more like a class action waiting to happen, the Green Issue while important globally is nothing like as important as skyrocketing asthma rates, stress and ill health (mental illness, styrokes etc0 - please read WHO report if you do not believe me, and of course the premature and underweight birth of babies. All of which is from WHO and not green fringe groups. Anyone who flies more than they absolutely have to or agrees to expand flights over populated areas is a party to a 21st century tobacco sized health issue which will come back and bite those who support this type of horrendous and barbaric planning.
- Christian Ball, London, UK, 05/10/2009 07:31
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Poster above cannot count. There were four councillors present and all of them voted for something that is right for the borough.
- Factually Correct, Newham, 05/10/2009 07:31
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It's not just a green issue. Anyone living on the flightpath suffers enough noise as it is, from 6am till late at night. I do not trust the regulators when they talk about restricting flight times and only allowing 'whisper jets' to use the airport. They have failed before on this
- Bernie Oppenheim, London, England, 05/10/2009 07:31
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These planes have a greater impact than you think as they have to fly below the level of heathrow planes. I like looking at planes and visiting Clapham recently I was lucky enough to see a BA 146 doing a tight turn before making an approach that went all the way from there to the back end of beyond in East London.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, Surrey, 05/10/2009 07:31
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I live near the flight path but not so near that the aircraft disturbs my sleep. I think its great if the jobs really do go to local people because at current south Newham doesn't have half enough jobs in it to serve the local community.
- Effi, London, Silvertown, 05/10/2009 07:31
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i live under flight path the noise is diabolical now
50% more in the morning and evening so called whisper jets
no? please
it,s not just polution its noisepolution
come and listen then decide
friday evenings and sundays
- S G Howe, poplar, 05/10/2009 07:31
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London City Airport is not a small airport and it's growing and having a really negative effect on the local communities. The council have just created a bigger campaign to stop expansion and to try help to create a healthy safe community.
LB Newham don't care for the health of the community only for big business. Only 3 councilors voted on this "3", as all the other Labour councilors have interests in LCY's business. Is this really a fair vote? Locals and residents in the surrounding communities and boroughs don't think so.
- Concerned In Newham, Newham, 05/10/2009 07:31
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Hi Factually Correct.
Ok 4 I forgot the chair "sorry"
It still does not make a difference as there were many councilors Newham Labour who have a vested interested in the expansion. It's was also not reported that the planning meeting was held up as there was a potential conflict of interest with all Labour councilors as the were leafleting false information about the Conservative party at a local bi-election about London City Airport. The did of course weasel their way out from it for now.
All very fair. Actually as we know not very much is Fair when it comes to Sir Wales and his cronies in Newham. They all looked very cosy in the Pub last night.
- Concerned In Newham, Newham, 05/10/2009 07:31
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I live directly under the flight path - and their definition of early morning isn't the same as mine. They regularly allow loud aircraft to take off before 7:30am - it used to just be little lear jets you could barely hear - but now they take off full passenger planes which shake our flat. Adding more of these is bonkers. (Not to mention that DLR services between 8-8:30am are rammed since the extension to Woolwich Arsenal opened - so any flight increase in that interval will be very unwelcome with commuters.) Newham Council's planning committee are a waste of space though. Given climate change concerns - I really think any airport expansion plans should be a decision for the whole of parliament not a local planning committee.
- Andy Sands, Silvertown, UK, 05/10/2009 07:31
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So our mayor is keen to intervene to stop a new runway at Heathrow, but will happily allow almost double the flights through City?
Surely it can't be because Heathrow is in a Tory heartland, whereas City is not?
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall, 05/10/2009 07:31
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The expansion of the airport is not going to make the slightest difference to climate change. Such change is worldwide, not just in Newham. I suggest that people like Jenny Bates might want to direct their anger at the Sun for shining too brightly.
- Percy Vere, Chipping Campden, Glos, 05/10/2009 07:31
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Some of the fringe groups need to get serious.
Reduction in Carbon emmissions is mainly going to come from buildings, not a small airport. Only last month Newham Homes reported on a project for solar water heating for some of the Council's tenants.
- Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, LONDON. UK, 05/10/2009 07:31
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