Airport appeal leaves council ‘disappointed’
COUNCIL chiefs have voiced their “extreme disappointment” at Bristol Airport’s bid to overturn a refusal of its planned expansion.
North Somerset councillors rejected the airport’s application to increase its current capacity from 10 million to 12 million passengers per year in February. They argued that environmental and societal impacts outweighed the economic benefits of the expansion.
But at the start of August, airport chief executive Dave Lees said the company would be appealing the decision, which was made against advice from the council’s own planning officers.
Now, Bath & North East Somerset Council has condemned the move.
Councillor Sarah Warren, joint cabinet member for Climate Emergency, said: “We are extremely disappointed that Bristol International Airport is appealing against planning refusal.
“At a time when we are facing a climate emergency, we are resolute that the economic benefits of an increase in passenger numbers are clearly outweighed by the detrimental impact on the environment.
“More flights would result in more emissions from both aircraft and traffic heading to and from the airport, impacting residents in Bath and North East Somerset.”
She also argued, with the uncertainty surrounding future travel behaviour due to Covid, it seems highly unlikely that the passenger increases predicted would be met.
A spokesman for the airport said: “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.”
Under the plans, the airport will offer passengers more routes and flights from the South West directly, create jobs, facilitate inward investment and inbound tourism.
“Sustainable development has always been at the centre of Bristol Airport’s plans,” he said.
“The expansion proposals sit alongside a roadmap which sets out how the airport will achieve its ambition to become carbon neutral for direct emissions by 2025 and a net zero airport by 2050.
“A comprehensive package of measures is also proposed to minimise the
More flights would result in more emissions from both aircraft and traffic heading to and from the
airport, impacting residents in Bath and North East Somerset COUNCILLOR SARAH WARREN
adverse environmental impacts of an additional two million passengers per annum. 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.”
The airport is currently allowed 3,000 night flights in summer and 1,000 in winter. Bosses have applied to increase this to 4,000 throughout the year from summer 2021.