Airport protestors will fight on

Proposals to develop Lydd Airport into a modern regional airport took a giant step forward last week when councillors voted 2-to-1 in favour of allowing the construction of a 294m runway extension plus a 150m starter apron and new terminal capable of handling up to 500,000 passengers a year.

Lydd Airport Managing Director Jonathan Gordon said the council's decision to support the 25 million investment plan was a victory for local people. He promised it would create new jobs and help regenerate the Rye.

But the 2,000 strong Lydd Airport Action Group has pledged to maintain its fight.

The groups's spokesperson Louise Barton said: "Our legal advisor Matthew Horton QC has confirmed that the decision is contrary to European Law as the councillors have not correctly interpreted the Habitats Regulations.

"We have requested the Government Office of the South East to call in this planning application for a public inquiry as it fulfills four of the five criteria used to assess whether a public inquiry is applicable.

"We are confident that the decision will be overturned in a public inquiry on the correct interpretation of the European Habitats Regulations.

"Other important factors include nuclear safety, an issue which was dismissed by Shepway District Council. LAAG believes that the risk of crash damage is too high and can demonstrate that the methodology used to assess crash damage risk cannot account for the high specific risk at Lydd Airport.

" Lydd Airport is located less than three miles from the Dungeness Nuclear Power Complex with a height restriction of 2000ft and less than two miles and eight miles respectively from the Lydd (D044) and Hythe (D141) Military Ranges with respective height restrictions of 4000 ft, and 3200ft.

"The airport is surrounded by unique natural habitats protected under European and national laws and is located under the main bird migratory route in the south of England. All these factors make the location unsuitable for a regional airport."