PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AIRPORT SHOULD COME CLEAN OVER EXPANSION ASPIRATIONS
Environmental campaigners have welcomed this morning's announcement by BIA chief executive Paul Kehoe that the runway extension will not be built for at least 5 years, but are calling for more clarity over what work is to be completed and who will pay for it.
Recently both Birmingham and Solihull councils have offered to put in £16 million of “state aid” to allow the runway extension to go ahead by paying for work to move the A45, but the details of this have remained private. Birmingham FoE is now calling for all relevant documents to be made available for public scrutiny and for the case to be completely reviewed with regards to the legislation now in place.
Friends of the Earth won huge public support for the 2008 Climate Change Act which has made the aviation white paper of 2003 (on which all runway plans were based) obsolete, and they are now calling for more transparency and a complete review of the plans for expanding aviation in this country.
Joe Peacock from Birmingham Friends of the Earth stated “We now know that aviation expansion plans do not add up for the planet or the people of the West Midlands. New government guidance due next year must take into account the science of climate change that is recognised in law and this will mean expanding aviation can no longer be justified.”
“The airport should now tell the public exactly what their plans are and stop asking for state subsidies for damaging work to be carried out on the greenbelt.”
“Birmingham City Council have recently announced some green measures to get the economy moving, so these should be the focus of investment from the public purse, as the financial return for the area will be far higher.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1) Birmingham City Council recently passed the Climate change action plan to cut its £1.5 billion energy bill and generate investment in green jobs http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=8336
2) The Big Ask Campaign resulted in the climate change act 2008 http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/big_ask/
3) Lord Justice Carnwath ruled that the 2003 Air Transport White Paper – the foundation of aiport expansion plans across the country - is obsolete because it is inconsistent with the Climate Change Act 2008. http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2010/626.html
4) Birmingham Friends of the Earth campaigns on many environmental issues, including the promotion of sustainable transport.
For more information contact: Joe Peacock (Birmingham Friends of the Earth)
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