BRISTOL AIRPORT EXPANSION REFUSAL APPEAL SUBMITTED
BRISTOL Airport has formally submitted its appeal against North Somerset Council’s decision to refuse its expansion plans.
Bosses at the transport hub announced earlier this year it was to appeal the decision and had until September 19 to lodge it.
The appeal has been submitted in the past few days.
The expansion would see capacity at the airport increase from 10 million to 12 million passengers a year.
Campaigners fighting the expansion plans say they are ‘dismayed’ an appeal has now been lodged.
A spokesman for Bristol Airport said: “Bristol Airport has submitted its appeal against North Somerset Council’s decision to refuse its planning application to increase capacity from 10 million to 12 million passengers per year.
“Bristol Airport welcomes the opportunity to submit their appeal and commence the appeal process.
“The decision to refuse the planning application was contrary to the recommendation of the council’s own planning officers.
“The decision on the application will now move to a national level and will be made by an independent planning inspector or, if the appeal is recovered, by the Government.
“The plans to expand capacity at the airport will offer passengers more routes and flights from the south west directly, create jobs, facilitate inward investment and inbound tourism, and support greener and more sustainable, regional economic growth.
“As the UK emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic it is essential that all regions of the country are given the opportunity to grow to their full potential and contribute to the national recovery effort.
“International trade and connectivity will become increasingly important as the UK completes its departure from the European Union – increasing aviation capacity is essential in delivering this goal.”
Campaign group Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN) says it will now be gathering a legal and expert team to give evidence at the appeal on the impact of aviation on climate change.
It will also be gathering a legal and expert team to give evidence on the impact of aviation on climate change at the appeal.
The group had a major part to play in opposing the original application for expansion with a year-long campaign which encouraged local people to submit over 8,000 objections to the council’s planning website.
Member of the BAAN coordinating committee Tarisha FinneganClarke said: “This is an example of a business completely in denial about the catastrophic climate changes that are hurtling our way.
“BAAN will be using this appeal to argue for radical transformation. The result of the appeal will test our Government’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and their own legally binding carbon targets.
“Unbelievably, Bristol Airport is only one of more than 20 airports in the UK that have plans to expand; therefore what happens at this inquiry will have significant national and international consequences.”
North Somerset Council has already announced it will ‘robustly defend’ the appeal.
Council spokesman Nick Yates said: “We will vigorously defend the decision that was made to refuse the application at the appeal hearing.”