Lydd Airport Expansion Grounded?

Shepway planners have recommended refusal of planning applications concerning the expansion of Lydd Airport in a supplementary report released today.

The report released today, Friday 19, reveals that planners have received over three thousand representations, 80% of which are against the expansion plans.

Planners recommend refusal mainly on environmental grounds, but also state that while some of the adverse effects on residents of the expansion ‘can be partially mitigated, not all of them can’.

These objections are judged to outweigh economic benefits, with the report noting ‘whilst the expansion and associated investment in the local economy is a welcome prospect, the adverse effects on the SPA, SAC, SSSI, pSPA, pRAMSAR [all environmental designations], local community and other features mean that the planning applications should be refused’.

After years of speculation and strong views on the matter, the Development Control Committee will hear the applications on March 3. At the council meeting last night (Thursday 18) the council agreed to allow MP Michael Howard to address the meeting.

All seats in the public gallery have been reserved. While the meeting will be relayed to other rooms in the Civic Centre and to a special screen in the Romney Marsh Academy theatre, members of the public are being urged to stay at home and tune in to a webcast of the meeting.