Airport Council opposes expansion plans
BRISTOL City Council has expressed its clear opposition to plans for a major expansion of Bristol Airport in a U-turn on its previous position.
A majority of councillors agreed on Tuesday that the expansion was “incompatible” with the region’s carbon reduction targets and “must not go ahead”.
Members had not debated the controversial expansion before, but its ruling Labour leaders had previously expressed their support.
The airport’s plans to increase passenger numbers by two million a year were vetoed by North Somerset Council in February, but airport bosses have appealed the decision. A local inquiry by a Government planning inspector to determine the appeal is expected to start in July next year.
The motion also calls on Bristol mayor Marvin Rees to support any city councillors who write letters asking the planning inspector not to overturn North Somerset’s rejection of the airport expansion.
Brought by the Green group, the motion originally called on Mr Rees to publicly oppose the plans and to write a formal letter of objection to the planning inspector.
The amended version, altered by Labour with the support of the Greens and the Liberal Democrats, was backed by every group but the
Conservatives, who
“attack on jobs”.
Bristol Airport is the largest single employer in the South West and provides many jobs for people in south Bristol.
Green councillor Jerome Thomas, who tabled the original motion, said: “It’s a significant step for Bristol that we do emphatically commit to opposing the expansion.
“It’s not going as far as we’d like, in that it’s not asking the mayor to formally object to the planning called it an inspector, but by voting for this motion we are making clear our opposition and that it is incompatible with our climate targets.”
Cabinet member for transport Kye Dudd said he sympathised with aviation workers but that research into carbon-neutral aviation would eventually protect jobs.
Mr Rees did not take part in the formal debate, but supported the motion having told a member of the public he had “no influence” over planning inspectors.