News

.... a weekly column from Michael Howard MP

1 March 2007

 

Last week I promised to let you know my views on the proposed expansion of Lydd Airport – both my opinion on whether it should proceed and on who should actually make the decision. 

Since then I have completed my review of the Environmental Impact Statement, submitted with the planning applications for an extension of the runway and a new terminal building. I have also experienced, at first hand, from Dunes Road, Greatstone, one of the worst affected areas, the impact of a plane that has missed its approach and one that has successfully landed. The opportunity for this experience arose as a result of the test flight last Saturday, arranged at my request. 

I have no doubt that the expansion of the airport will have a detrimental impact on the quality of life of some of my constituents, the residents of Dunes Road among them. I have great sympathy with them. I hope that, if the expansion scheme does go ahead, and they wish to move, compensation arrangements can be put in place so that they will not be financially disadvantaged in doing so. Of course I appreciate that compensation will not solve all problems and many local residents in Dunes Road and elsewhere, may not wish to move. But I do believe that a proper compensation scheme, along the lines of the scheme I negotiated when the Channel Tunnel was under consideration, could help to mitigate the consequences of airport expansion on many local residents. 

I know that any opinion I express will anger many of you. That is inevitable. But I have tried to weigh up the various relevant factors and think about what is best for our local community as a whole. I have reached the view that the adverse consequences for a number of my constituents do not outweigh the wider benefits which airport expansion would bring. This is particularly the case if an acceptable compensation agreement can be concluded. So, assuming we can conclude such an agreement, the decision should, instead, be called in by the Secretary of State for Communities and decided by her. This procedure would have the advantage of permitting a Public Inquiry to take place at which the arguments for and against the plans could be vigorously tested. 

I agree with those who have agreed that this should take place. Although, as I have said, any decision is going to leave many people unhappy. I believe that that process would go some way to gaining acceptance of the decision, whatever it might be. 

One of the disadvantages of Public Inquiries is the time they take. We saw that when the last Public Inquiry into the airport took place over a decade ago. I think we could avoid that this time around by conducting the Public Inquiry so that it refrained from going over old ground. If it focussed on new issues, on the things that have changed in the intervening years, I believe we could have a relatively quick Public Inquiry which would not cause a long delay and which would bring to an end the uncertainty which we are all currently suffering. 

So there are my views. In a nutshell if the decision were mine, I would decide in favour of the proposals, subject to concluding an acceptable agreement on compensation. But the decision is not mine and I do not think it should be made by Shepway District Council. I think it should be called in by the Secretary of State and I have written to her asking her to do so.