Airport debate one step nearer

Shepway District Council says it welcomes receiving the information it needs to make a decision on plans to expand London Ashford Airport (Lydd).

The airport has submitted information clarifying flight paths, which follows queries raised last year, with adjustments to noise impacts and a statement about plane crash risk and nuclear safety. It has updated other information, particularly about employment, tourism, business, training opportunities and made comments about the current recession. It has also submitted details about drainage and foul water treatment and an update on mitigation measures.

Consultation on the additional information starts this week and will run until 9 April.

Although the council says it is too early to set a date for the meeting to determine the plans for a new terminal building and a runway extension, it could be sometime in early summer.

"Once the consultation period has ended, our planning officers will be considering the views of specialist advisors and statutory agencies, like the Environment Agency. We will keep the airport informed of progress and organise final discussions with them before planning the special council meeting," said Planning Manager, Chris Lewis

"We appreciate that many people wanted the application determined quickly, but we wanted to ensure that we had all the information needed to make a recommendation to our councillors. The airport has also clarified certain points and updated information.

"We take seriously the points raised about the potential economic benefits of the airport proposals, but this is only one aspect that has to be considered. There are other important issues, like those relating to aircraft noise and the potential impact on ecological sites of national and international importance."

Previous comments made about the two planning applications are not affected by the latest additional consultation and will be taken into account when the planning applications are considered by the council.