BelfastCity

Belfast City Council’s decision to back a Public Inquiry into the proposed runway extension must mean the Planning Minister, Sammy Wilson, has come on board, according to campaigners.

A growing number of Councils have been queuing up to apply pressure on Sammy Wilson to hold a Public Inquiry into the planned runway extension at Belfast City Airport.

Belfast City Council became the latest to call for a Public Inquiry. North Down, Antrim and Ballymoney Borough Councils have already stepped up to the plate, and others are expected to follow their lead.

Belfast City Council has become the latest and most influential body to back calls for a full Public Inquiry into the proposed runway extension at City Airport.

The Council, meeting tonight (2nd Feb.), unanimously adopted the recommendations of two influential sub-committees.

Bmi managing director, Peter Spencer calls for a relaxation of the 9.30pm ‘curfew’, and announces a decision to operate the larger jet, the Airbus A320 on all of their Belfast-Heathrow flights.

Campaigners have renewed their demand for a public inquiry into the controversial runway extension plan drawn up by George Best Belfast City Airport, after discovering planners have been deluged with objections to the controversial proposal.  The call, from Belfast City Airport Watch (BCAW), follows the revelation that planners received:

• A massive 1,704 objections to the runway extension

• Just 12 letters in support of the extension

 Chief Executive Officer of the George Best Belfast City Airport, Brian Ambrose describes 1,700 objections to the Airport’s proposal to build a runway extension as “small”. This is pointless ‘spin’ – trying to argue that what is large is ‘small’, and what is unjustified and unwanted is crucial. This Airport needs a reality check.

Planning Service has agreed that it will still accept objections to the proposed runway extension after the Boxing Day deadline. A spokesperson has stated that it will accept objections until a decision on whether to hold a public inquiry has been made.

Objections must be based on the Environmental Statement the Airport which the Airport submitted with the planning application. This document is 600+ pages, and available from the Airport. But a team from Belfast City Airport Watch have read it from cover to cover and have produced an objection letter, based on the key issues.

This objection letter is available from our Downloads Section. The key issues which necessitate a Public Inquiry are listed, with space to add your own comments.

Post to or leave in at:

Planning Service Headquarters
Millennium House
17-25 Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7BN

Flybe has thrown a giant-sized spanner into the works by saying that the proposed runway extension at Belfast City Airport would be bad for local residents, the airport and Northern Ireland.

Campaigners fighting the plan say Flybe’s intervention is seismic. “This is game, set and match to us – the best Christmas present imaginable and a real boost to our campaign”.