Hertfordshire & North Middlesex Area of the Ramblers' Association
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Area Countryside Secretaries Campaign Update:
October - November 2008
Dear Supporter
You will be aware the Government granted permission to an increase in the number of flights from the existing runway at Stansted. The new limits are: annual passenger throughput is not to exceed 35 mppa, up from 25mppa; annual passenger air transport movements (planes) are not to exceed 243,500, annual cargo air transport movements are not to exceed 20,500 and light aircraft and non air transport movements such as positioning flights are not to exceed 10,000 in a year.
It is not difficult to imagine how many planes there could be if a second runway was approved, double this, and from the point of view of walkers, there will be a lot of noise including that from aircraft from other airports, Heathrow and Luton .
The Air Transport White Paper was referred to constantly by the Inspector and consideration of climate change was ignored as were the many good reasons why expansion should not be allowed.
See the e-mail below from Peter Sanders, Chairman of Stop Stanstead Expansion regarding how to proceed, which you may care to respond to and to forward this to others as well who may be interested.
Thanks and best wishes
Philip Greswell
Countryside Secretary
Hertfordshire and N Middx' Area,
The Ramblers Association
-----Original Message-----
From: SSE Administrator <info@stopstanstedexpansion.com>
Sent: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:12
Subject: October Update from SSE
Dear Supporter
Permission to expand the capacity of Stansted
Just over two weeks ago the Government approved BAA's 'G1' application for an extra 10m passengers a year at Stansted. While we had always expected that this would be a political decision, we were nevertheless taken aback by the Government's disregard for the evidence which it found inconvenient.
We are currently taking legal advice on the decision because we believe it is flawed. If the advice is that we should appeal, then we shall do so, especially if this would reinforce our position at the Public Inquiry into BAA's application for a second runway which is due to begin next April. We have always made clear our commitment to fighting BAA every step of the way and we owe it to the community to honour that pledge – although we would not waste our resources on a frivolous challenge.
In the meantime we are very keen to have members' views on the question of whether or not we should appeal the G1 decision. An appeal would be expensive and would substantially reduce our financial resources for next year's 'G2' Public Inquiry on BAA's second runway application. However, if the G1 decision is left unchallenged, this could undermine our case at next year's Inquiry.
Without yet having the legal advice – and for obvious reasons we would need to keep the detail of this confidential anyway – we recognise that you may feel unable to express a clear view. However, legal advice is never 'black and white' and so we'll need to make a judgement. That's why we're keen to hear from as many of our members as possible on this issue. Please send your views to the SSE campaign office either by post or email as soon as possible.
What about the second runway application?
As far as preparations for the Inquiry into the second runway application is concerned, we have now submitted our Outline Statement of Case to the Planning Inspectorate. This and documents from other major parties can be viewed online at the Inspectorate's website for the Inquiry.
The Pre-Inquiry Meeting – your presence is requested…
The next stage is attendance at the Pre-Inquiry Meeting which is scheduled for 10.30am on Monday 10 November at the Stansted Hilton. Please attend if you possibly can.
This is NOT a protest meeting – there should be no banners or placards – but an opportunity to express views to the Inspector on the scope of the Public Inquiry and how it should be run. One of our main concerns is that the Inspector – who will have a Deputy and two Assistants – may try to 'fast track' the Inquiry by running parallel sessions dealing with different subjects in different Inquiry rooms at the same time. This would seriously stretch our resources and could compromise the fairness of the Inquiry – not only for SSE but also for other organisations representing the community. BAA and the Local Authorities have the resources to cope with parallel sessions but smaller organisations would find that this approach made it very difficult to engage fully in the Inquiry and to keep abreast of its progress. It would be very helpful if SSE's position was backed up by a large audience of people from the community so that the Inspector is left in no doubt of local feeling.
For those who can attend, if travelling by car you will be able to obtain a free car park exit pass at the hotel reception before you leave. Please contact our campaign office if you need full directions to the Stansted Hilton.
If you have not yet registered to speak at the Inquiry and would like to do so, you should notify the Planning Inspectorate as soon as possible. There is a special form for this on our website. We'll also talk you through the process if this would help.
…even though we believe the Inquiry is premature…
Having said all this, so much has changed since BAA submitted its planning application for a second runway in March that we believe it would now be premature – and probably a waste of everyone's time and money – to proceed with the Public Inquiry next Spring. As we have made clear in our Outline Statement of Case, this is because of three reasons:
Economic: The dramatic changes that have taken place in world financial markets in the time since the G2 application was submitted make it wholly unrealistic to believe that the growth in air travel will continue henceforth on a 'business as usual' basis. Stansted is already 25,000 passengers a week down on last year.
Regulatory: The future ownership of Stansted is uncertain following the publication of the Competition Commission's 'Provisional Findings' on its Market Inquiry into BAA, concluding that two of BAA's three London airports should be sold. The Commission will publish its final report in February. If it maintains its current view, we believe it likely that G2 will be aborted.
Political: If the Inquiry were to proceed as currently planned, the political context at the end could be radically different from the current political context. The present Government supports a second Stansted runway but the Conservatives have now joined the Liberal Democrats in openly opposing a second runway. Moreover, the Inquiry process cannot run its full course this side of a General Election.
Nevertheless, the power to make BAA withdraw its application is not yet in our gift and so we must continue to oppose it through the conventional channels. We look to you for your continued support in so doing.
Yours sincerely
Peter Sanders
Chairman
Stop Stansted Expansion
01279 870558
info@stopstanstedexpansion.com
PO Box 311 , Takeley,Bishops Stortford, Herts, CM22 6PY
-----End of Message-----
Recent Updates: Early November
Radlett Strategic Rail Freight Interchange
Some good news is the Secretary of State has upheld St Albans District Council's decision to refuse planning permission for the proposed Radlett Strategic Rail Freight Interchange in St Albans district where a vast area of Green Belt land and the Rights of Way network were threatened.
Stansted G2 Second Runway Pre Inquiry Meeting
The meeting of 10 November was packed as the Inspector sought views for the programme due to commence next year in April. Proposals to fast track the Inquiry by holding concurrent sessions were opposed because of the resource implications, costs and complexities and the need for it to be seen to be fair. See SSE web site for more on this.
National Air Traffic Services
You will be aware of the consultation by Terminal Control North Airspace to change the flight paths which sees more traffic flying over the countryside than previously. These changes are opposed by many and NATS are therefore progressing at a level where full consideration to the feedback from the consultation can be made before submitting their proposals to the Civil Aviation Authority. Given the extent of controlled airspace above the UK at various levels and the extremely complex nature of aircraft operations in the region, the great majority of aircraft will inevitably fly over both countryside and towns.
Archive: September's update
This Campaign Update and much of the Countryside pages were prepared by:
Philip Greswell
Countryside Secretary
Hertfordshire and North Middlesex Area,
The Ramblers Association
Email: philipgreswell@aol.com
Ridgeway near Wendover
English Trail
