The next stage of the campaign will be the public consultation on BIA's planning application(s), which will be submitted sometime in 2008. It's crucial that concerned members of the public respond to this. By registering with SBAE we can tell you as soon as the consultation starts and how to respond. Register your support! »

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About us

Stop Bristol Airport Expansion! (SBAE) is an alliance comprised of the following groups:

Bristol Friends of the Earth »
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) »
The Parish Councils Airport Association (PCAA)

The Master Plan

NSC sends strong
message over significant concerns

Full Council Decision on 20th Feb 2007

At a full council meeting of North Somerset Council on February 20th, the following motion was passed:

"That the BIA Master Plan be noted and the airport advised of this council's significant concerns regarding the following issues:

1) the absence of a viable and sustainable surface access strategy, evidenced by the anticipated growth in private vehicle movements on roads in the area, the proposed growth in onsite parking spaces and their proposed expansion outside the original airport perimeter, and the lack of sufficient compensatory public transport services;

2) the need for independent environmental and biodiversity impact assessment prior to any development being authorised to answer anticipated growth in noise and other pollution issues arising from aircraft and motor cars, and also light pollution and water run-off from existing and planned hard surfaces together with an assessment of potential solutions;

3) the need to identify committed funding for works to overcome the above issues in (1) and (2) ahead of any new development of the airport services, including Regional Assembly, Government and private funding allocations;

4) the need for an independent assessment into the economic cost/benefit impact on local and regional businesses as a result of the proposed retail expansion, onsite hotel and monopolised car parking and taxi services;

5) the need to consider any other detailed issues raised through the Council's internal and public consultation and the officers' conclusions.

6) (Amendment to original motion - discussed and passed) we call for full consideration of the Stern Report relating to climate change effects of an expanded airport.

"We particularly note the apparent contradictions of expanding Bristol International Airport whilst calling for reductions in emissions from Bristol industry in order to attain Government targets within our Kyoto Treaty obligations, and as outlined in the Regional Economic Strategy of the SWRA"

Our Response

We welcome North Somerset Council’s vote, which makes clear to BIA their significant concerns over traffic congestion, loss of local biodiversity, and pollution.

In particular we welcomed last night’s debate on the climate change effects of expanding the airport and the unanimous mood of support in the council chamber, which added climate change to their list of concerns to be communicated to BIA.

We look forward to seeing the full and independent assessments of environmental, biodiversity, and economic impacts of any development that NSC has called for.

However, we believe that the majority of the concerns referred to in last night’s motion cannot be solved.

This includes the contradiction between expanding Bristol airport whilst calling for reductions in emissions from Bristol Industry in order to meet climate change targets from Government and the South West Regional Assembly.

We are therefore calling for strong leadership from NSC in heeding these concerns and following the example of Uttlesford District Council in rejecting any further expansion of Bristol International Airport.

Council Decision on January 18 2007

At a meeting of North Somerset Council's Planning and Regulatory committee on January 18th, a motion requiring independent assessment of the expansion plans for Bristol International Airport (BIA) was passed. It is strongly welcomed by us.

At the meeting there were about 10 public speakers with only one person speaking in favour of the airport. Following the speakers, councillor Elfan Ap Rees (the chair of the SPED meeting in December which recommended this course of action) proposed a motion which was debated and passed by 17 votes to 2, and was as follows:

"This committee recommends the council notes the Master Plan but the airport be appraised of this council's significant concerns:

The absence of a viable and sustainable Surface Access Strategy, evidenced by the anticipated growth in private vehicle movements on roads in the area, the proposed growth in on-site car parking spaces and their expansion outside the original airport perimeter, and the lack of sufficient compensatory, subsidised public transport services.
The need for independent Environmental and Biodiversity Impact Assessment prior to any new development being authorised to answer anticipated growth in noise and pollution issues.
The need to identify committed funding for works to overcome the above issues 1) and 2) ahead of any new expansion of the airport services, including Regional Assembly, Government and private funding allocations.
The need for an independent assessment into the Economic Impact on local business as a result of the proposed retail expansion, on-site hotel and monopolised car parking and taxi services.
The need to consider any detailed isues raised through the consultation process and the Officers conclusion."

There ensued a debate between the officers and the councillors on the use of the word independent - the officers working to a position that the reports would be paid for by BIA and therefore "independent" is not possible, but "objective" may be.

Overall, this is a very positive step. The next step is the full council on the 20th Feb. It seems likely that the reports required by the motion will not be ready by then so it seems likely that the council will have to pass a similar motion.

In the meantime, please feel free to write to the council officers and the councillors (who stand for re-election in May) and impress your views of what an independent report must constitute!
Who to contact

Consultation Responses

Many, many thanks again for your overwhelming response to NSC consultation. The official count now stands at:

Objections to the expansion plans: 4757
Support of the expansion plans: 250

The consultation ended on December 22nd. If you can't find your submission on the council's Master Plan page on its website please let the council know (and us!)

Who to contact

It's important the councillors continue to know how strongly you feel about this issue, and that we hold them to the SPED committee's recommendations. Please lobby your councillor.
Find your councillor on the North Somerset Council website

We also strongly encourage you to lobby the key on the council below. This can be done by emailing them individually or writing to them at this address:

North Somerset Council,
Somerset House,
Oxford Street,
Weston-super-Mare,
Somerset,
BS23 1TG

Please make your views known to Councillors.

The build up to NSC's decision

SPED panel meeting 20th December 2006

A motion recommending the delay of expansion at Bristol International Airport (BIA) was passed by North Somerset Council at the Strategic, Planning and Economic Development (SPED) special meeting held on December 20th.

Our Responses to the Master Plan