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Airport expansion 'a threat' to nuclear power plan
A campaign group has raised concerns that the expansion of an airport would jeopardise plans for a new nuclear power station at Dungeness.
The Lydd Airport Action Group (LAAG) wants to prevent proposals for the extension of the runway and a new terminal at London Ashford Airport on the Romney Marsh from going ahead.
New figures revealed by the anti-airport expansion group show the airport at Lydd, which employs 54 people, is working at a loss of £1.9 million annually.
The larger Kent International Airport at Manston in Thanet, which is owned by Infratil, employs 92 people and is losing £4 million per annum, according to the figures.
LAAG’s Louise Barton said: “The figures question the viability of expansion given they cannot operate successfully at the moment.
“Even if they expand the runway in a bid to attract the short haul market, Manston, which is operationally superior, is not profitable and is not attracting the airline operators.
“But in planning terms that is not relevant because it is up to operators.
“There are lots of things at stake and lots of consequences if the expansion goes ahead. It could jeopardise the planning application for Dungeness C.”
Last week, the Government confirmed that Dungeness was a possible site for a new nuclear power station, which would provide new jobs for the area.
However, Mrs Barton said that a planning consideration for the new generation of atomic energy sites would be civil aviation activity.
LAAG and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) are also concerned about the proposed expansion’s impact on local wildlife and the wider environment.
The RSPB said that expansion would harm the Dungeness to Pett Levels special protection area, which is designated for its internationally important wintering waterfowl and breeding seabird populations.
The airport is also next to the Dungeness special area of conservation, which is important for its shingle habitat and great crested newts.
LAAG believes there should only be one regional airport in Kent and it should be Manston because of its operational advantages, which include the ability to handle long and short haul flights.
Aviation consultant Malcolm Spaven found that even if Lydd Airport was expanded Manston Airport would remain operationally superior.
“CAA statistics for calendar 2008 reveal that Lydd Airport handled 1,673 passengers and Manston 11,657 passengers implying that both airports were operating at less than 1 per cent of their potential capacity based on their existing runways,” Mrs Barton added.
Cliff Spink, managing director of Lydd Airport, which is owned by Sheikh Fahad al Athel, said: “Of course this group will be entirely negative about the future, it is not in their interest to say anything else.
“I refuse to enter into a debate about the viability of Manston versus Lydd because both airports have a future based on their own business priorities.”
He added: “LAAG essentially want to stop private investment which is business madness at anytime but given the current economic situation facing the UK it strikes at the heart of the local community.
“Our investment also flows into a multitude of supporting businesses here at Lydd and gives some hope of employment for our youngsters.
“Our investment in Shepway and east Kent means jobs. How many jobs will LAAG create?”
Shepway District Council said that a decision would be made on Lydd Airport’s planning application by the end of the June at the earliest.
Source
A campaign group has raised concerns that the expansion of an airport would jeopardise plans for a new nuclear power station at Dungeness.
The Lydd Airport Action Group (LAAG) wants to prevent proposals for the extension of the runway and a new terminal at London Ashford Airport on the Romney Marsh from going ahead.
New figures revealed by the anti-airport expansion group show the airport at Lydd, which employs 54 people, is working at a loss of £1.9 million annually.
The larger Kent International Airport at Manston in Thanet, which is owned by Infratil, employs 92 people and is losing £4 million per annum, according to the figures.
LAAG’s Louise Barton said: “The figures question the viability of expansion given they cannot operate successfully at the moment.
“Even if they expand the runway in a bid to attract the short haul market, Manston, which is operationally superior, is not profitable and is not attracting the airline operators.
“But in planning terms that is not relevant because it is up to operators.
“There are lots of things at stake and lots of consequences if the expansion goes ahead. It could jeopardise the planning application for Dungeness C.”
Last week, the Government confirmed that Dungeness was a possible site for a new nuclear power station, which would provide new jobs for the area.
However, Mrs Barton said that a planning consideration for the new generation of atomic energy sites would be civil aviation activity.
LAAG and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) are also concerned about the proposed expansion’s impact on local wildlife and the wider environment.
The RSPB said that expansion would harm the Dungeness to Pett Levels special protection area, which is designated for its internationally important wintering waterfowl and breeding seabird populations.
The airport is also next to the Dungeness special area of conservation, which is important for its shingle habitat and great crested newts.
LAAG believes there should only be one regional airport in Kent and it should be Manston because of its operational advantages, which include the ability to handle long and short haul flights.
Aviation consultant Malcolm Spaven found that even if Lydd Airport was expanded Manston Airport would remain operationally superior.
“CAA statistics for calendar 2008 reveal that Lydd Airport handled 1,673 passengers and Manston 11,657 passengers implying that both airports were operating at less than 1 per cent of their potential capacity based on their existing runways,” Mrs Barton added.
Cliff Spink, managing director of Lydd Airport, which is owned by Sheikh Fahad al Athel, said: “Of course this group will be entirely negative about the future, it is not in their interest to say anything else.
“I refuse to enter into a debate about the viability of Manston versus Lydd because both airports have a future based on their own business priorities.”
He added: “LAAG essentially want to stop private investment which is business madness at anytime but given the current economic situation facing the UK it strikes at the heart of the local community.
“Our investment also flows into a multitude of supporting businesses here at Lydd and gives some hope of employment for our youngsters.
“Our investment in Shepway and east Kent means jobs. How many jobs will LAAG create?”
Shepway District Council said that a decision would be made on Lydd Airport’s planning application by the end of the June at the earliest.
Source