Successful consultation on airport plans

     

More than 2,000 responses have been submitted to Shepway District Council following its six-week consultation on plans to expand Lydd Airport.

The council hosted three evening presentations, manned week-long exhibitions at Lydd Community Hall and St Peter's Church Hall, Greatstone, and had static displays at the Civic Centre in Folkestone, its one stop services in Hythe and New Romney and at Lydd Town Council offices.

The consultation followed the submission of two planning applications by Lydd Airport - one for a 500,000-passenger terminal building and the other for a runway extension.

Terry Ellames, Major Applications Co-ordinator, said the consultation had been a success and that all the public feedback and comments would be collated and analysed and form part of the report that will eventually be go before a meeting of the full council.

"We have also received a number of responses from those organisations we have to consult with on planning applications such as this, including the South East Regional Assembly, the South East England Development Agency and Natural England. We are expecting further comments from other key bodies by the end of April, including our own environmental consultant.

"Officers are expected to complete the review of all the consultation and comments by the end of April. Based on initial feedback, it is likely that more information will be requested from the applicants," said Terry.

No date has yet been set for the application to go before full council.