Very significant story in the Echo:
EXPANSION plans for Southend Airport could be in jeopardy, as council bosses are set to abandon its support for the scheme.
Informed sources say there have been thousands of objections to the Joint Area Action Plan consultation, which proposes a major expansion of the airport, together with the runway extension across Eastwoodbury Lane.
Protest meetings in Eastwood and Leigh have been packed with objectors worried about noise levels and night flying if the airport is allowed to expand.
Bosses at Southend and Rochford Councils backed the airport?s expansion plans, but now following a second consultation, sources are claiming it would be ?political suicide? to support it.
Full article here.
Just political puff from “unnamed sources” to distract voters from the issue prior to the elections.
There is a follow up article in the Echo today, 27 May, which is based on a Press Release from Councillors Cutmore and Hudson. I cannot find a link to the article on the Echo site but here is the Press Release.
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/1063718/jaap.pdf
I must admit that given that this consultation is on a JAAP, A Joint Area Action Plan, between Southend Borough Council and Rochford District Council, I am very surprised that there has not been a joint press release.
So on the face of things the situation doesn’t look “too” joint right now………if things continue on this path there won’t be a JAAP anymore under PPS12 !!
That would cause huge problems for both Councils. Lets hope that they can jointly respond to the consultation and come up with a plan for the airport that works for the people of both Southend and Rochford. That’s the job they all took on in their roles as Councillors with important, well rewarded, positions in their respective cabinets.
You are right John, this is a very big test for the Rochford cabinet,
Admin,
I see in today’s Echo that Southend Liberals have come out against the JAAP. What’s your group’s position?
That’s a good question Brian. This is a very big issue and it’s looking more likely that Rochford and Southend could be clashing on this, with possible repercussions on the whole local development framework. So our group will be having some detailed discussions…..