New date for airport meeting

      The meeting to determine plans to expand London Ashford Airport (Lydd) has been re-scheduled.

It will now be held on 23 September and not 9 July as planned. The decision to move the date was taken by Shepway District Council Chief Executive, Alistair Stewart, on Monday (29 June).

He said he made his decision after a request from the lawyers acting for the owner of the airport - who also asked for the publication of the council's report on the planning applications to be postponed.

"I don't think it's appropriate to postpone the publication of the report, however I have decided to reschedule the meeting. It will now be held on Wednesday 23 September and not Thursday 9 July as originally planned.

"Although there is no legal requirement for me to reschedule the meeting, I believe doing this will be useful and helpful and will give all parties - both for and against the expansion plans - more time to properly and fully consider the report, which is long, complex and often technical."

The owners of the airport want to build a new passenger terminal building and extend the runway.

The report is available at council offices and at www.shepway.gov.uk from 1 July.