Birmingham Airport anti-Noise Group

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Tuesday, 15th January 2008

Time running out to stop Runway Extension

Environmental campaigners opposing the expansion of Birmingham International Airport (BIA) today urged concerned local residents to register their objections to the proposed airport runway extension while they still have the chance.

On Friday 4 January the airport company applied to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council for planning permission to begin work on the 400m extension to the main runway and the additional infrastructure to support it. [1] The Council have set a deadline - Friday 22nd February 2008 - for local people and other interested parties to comment on the controversial proposals. [2] Councillors have until 25th April to decide the application.

Birmingham Friends of the Earth (FoE) and Birmingham Airport anti-Noise Group (BANG) last week launched a new campaign to stop the runway extension, setting out the environmental and economic arguments against the airport's expansion on a new website, www.flyagra.co.uk. [3]

Secretary of BANG James Botham said:

"We urge everyone with concerns about the effect of Birmingham International Airport's expansion on their lives, their communities and the environment to make their views known to Solihull Council now, before 22nd February, while they still have the chance to influence the decision. Local residents and other interested parties must take advantage of this short but vital window of opportunity to object to the proposed runway extension before it's too late."

Editor's Notes

[1] The full planning application can be viewed at BIA's website, www.bhx.co.uk/planning%5Fapplication.

[2] Responses to the planning application can be submitted on-line at Solihull Council's website, www.solihull.gov.uk/planning/dc/Comment.asp?AppNo=2008/0022.

[3] See www.flyagra.co.uk. Some parts of the website are still under construction. For more information contact Birmingham Airport anti-Noise Group (BANG) 01543 264 247.