Essex Greens welcome BAA decision to withdraw planning application for Stansted 2nd runway

25 May 2010

The Green Party in Essex has welcomed the decision by the BAA to withdraw its planning application for a second runway at Stansted Airport, and a third runway at Heathrow.

The decision had become virtually inevitable given the collapse in political support for airport expansion. The new coalition Government announced that new runway applications at Stansted and Heathrow would not be supported and even Labour made a last minute pledge in its manifesto that it would not allow a second runway at Stansted for at least for the duration of the new parliament.

Essex Green Party has consistently opposed a 2nd runway and any expansion at Stansted beyond 25 million passengers per year on the grounds of impacts on local communities, increased road traffic and growing greenhouse gas emissions.

James Abbott, Essex Green Party Co-ordinator and campaigner against a second runway at Stansted for over 25 years said

"The confirmation today that the BAA has withdrawn its planning application at Stansted Airport is wonderful news. We did expect it, but nevertheless the confirmation is very welcome.

Congratulations are also very much due to Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) who have fought tirelessly for years to defend local communities threatened by the BAA's plans.

The pressure against a second runway at Stansted was becoming unstoppable for the BAA. The coalition Government made the right call on this and left the BAA with no way out.

Now at last the blight and uncertainty that has weighed so heavily on the area will be lifted. Lets not forget that the BAA seriously intended to make Stansted as big as Heathrow is today. Such an environmentally destructive and climate ruinous proposal was totally incompatible with local, regional and national policies.

But now at last we can consign it to history and hope it stays there.

There will now be no lengthy and expensive planning inquiry and the BAA can begin recycling the rooms full of paper they created to try and justify their expansion plans."

Tweet

Witham and Braintree Green Party RSS Feed

Back to main page