Residents march on BIA

Birmingham Airport anti-Noise Group

Tuesday 26th October 2004

Photo Opportunity: Wednesday 27th October 2004, 1.30pm, outside Diamond House, Birmingham International Airport. Anti-airport expansion campaigners and local residents with banners and placards demonstrate at Birmingham Airport.

Local residents groups campaigning against the expansion of Birmingham International Airport will lead a demonstration outside Diamond House, where the Airport Consultative Committee will be meeting.

The demonstration follows on from a public meeting on Tuesday 19th October at the Ivy Leaf Social Club, Coventry Road, Sheldon, called by Solihull Opposing Additional Runways (SOAR), Birmingham Airport anti-Noise Group (BANG), and Save Elmdon Action Group (SEAG) to discuss the compensation options the Airport is offering to those local residents it sees as likely to be worst affected by the second runway development.[1]

Lester Beeson, Elmdon resident and member of SEAG, said:
"It was clear from the packed-out public meeting last Tuesday that there's a lot of frustration and anger in the community. People feel cheated, that they're not being considered or listened too by the Airport. BIA have complained about the 'emotionalism' [2] that has been generated by the issue of compensation, but for that they have only themselves to blame: they've upset a lot of people with these plans. We will use our positions on BIA's compensation working group to fight local residents' corner."

BANG invited Birmingham Airport to send representatives to last week's public meeting in Sheldon but they declined. External Relations Co-ordinator Lynne Mee replied that the Airport "believe that it is more appropriate to seek views from key groups through engagement in a working group."[3]

Dave Cuthbert, Catherine-de-Barnes resident and chairman of SOAR, said:

"This demonstration is a chance for us to lobby not just the Airport management but also the other West Midlands district councils who own a share of BIA but who have not yet responded to the compensation consultation.[4] When these people show up for the Airport Consultative Committee meeting we're going to be there to make sure they know that we expect their support."

James Botham, Secretary of BANG said:

"Much more is at stake here than just compensation. The overwhelming conclusion from last week's public meeting in Sheldon was that if BIA genuinely want to do the right thing by their neighbours then they must shelve their plans for a second runway."

Editor's Notes

[1] Birmingham Airport is inviting local people's views on its proposals to compensate or assist with relocation those residents whose properties lie within certain forecast 'noise contours' for the second runway. Who does and does not get consulted (let alone compensated) is effectively determined by drawing lines on a map around the site of the proposed runway.

If you are one of the 'lucky ones' within the invisible boundary of the noise contours you could have your house purchased by the Airport company (based on June 2002 market value) but not until 2007 at the earliest, and possibly not until 2014. If you do not fall inside the boundary, even though you're near neighbour might, you will get nothing. The noise contours exclude the vast majority of properties currently affected by 'generalised blight' as well as the most of the properties who will be affected by the runway operations if it goes ahead.

The Airport's consultation, part of its Master Plan Review process, runs until 30th November 2004. Send responses to:

Master Plan Review Voluntary Compensation Schemes,
Birmingham International Airport Limited,
Birmingham
B26 3QJ

or email runway@bhx.co.uk

The consultation document can be viewed on-line at www.bhx.co.uk/vcs_Consultation.pdf

[2] In the Birmingham Post (22nd October 2004), John Morris, head of corporate affairs at BIA, said there had been a lot of "emotionalism" over the compensation plans.

[3] Email to James Botham, 13th October 2004. The working group has now been set up and convened for the first of three meetings on Monday. Representatives of BANG, SOAR, SEAG and Marston Green, Elms Farm and Bickenhill residents associations were present along with Solihull councillors, BIA's head of corporate affairs John Morris and Finance Director Joe Kelly.

[4] Seven West Midlands district councils (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Solihull, Sandwell, Walsall, Wolverhampton) jointly own 49 per cent of Birmingham Airport. To date only Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council has made a official recommendation to BIA concerning the Airport's voluntary compensation schemes.

BANG! Home