Manston closure willnot affect Lydd plans

Plans are underway for a major expansion at Lydd Airport which will see a new passenger terminal and an extended runway, allowing it to accommodate larger aircraft.

A spokesman for Lydd Airport expressed surprise at the Manston Airport announcement and said: “It is incredibly sad to hear of any airport in trouble, especially one in Kent.

“Of course the business model at Manston is very different to our own at Lydd and we remain very confident that our investment plans here will create a successful, modern regional airport capable of providing high quality air travel services to a wide catchment area in Kent, East Sussex and beyond.”

Lydd Airport has been granted planning permission for a runway extension and a new terminal building. Construction work on the runway is expected to start later in the year.

Earlier this year the Lydd Airport Action Group and the RSPB conservation body both made High Court appeals against the decision to allow the expansion to go ahead.

Concerns were raised over the close proximity of the airport to Dungeness nuclear power station.

The RSPB has said the plans would impact on wildlife and habitat on the protected Romney Marsh.

The airport though says it has carried out its own extensive studies of impact on wildlife.

It claims the larger airport will create more high quality local jobs and help regenerate the local economy of Romney Marsh and the surrounding area.

Louise Barton, from Lydd Airport Action Group, said: “For as long as Dungeness A and Dungeness B remain on site, even when shut down and with all of the spent fuel removed, they will continue to present a radiological risk through the extended 100 year decommissioning phase.”