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| Fri, 4th Jun 2021 13:11:00 |
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Southampton Airport activists 'taken aback' by runway sign-off |
Airport protestors have said a council formally approved an airport runway extension despite an earlier agreement with the government to delay.
On Thursday Eastleigh Borough Council issued formal planning permission for Southampton Airport to lengthen its runway by 164m (538ft).
Campaign group Airport Expansion Opposition (AXO) said it was "taken aback" by the announcement.
The council said it gave the government time to intervene but had no response.
In a statement, the authority said it agreed in April to give the government time to review the plan.
It said it subsequently warned ministers on 14 May that planning permission would be issued at the end of the month, but received no reply.
However a government email to AXO, dated 19 May, said the delay agreement was still in force.
The email, seen by the BBC, said: "The department has an agreement with Eastleigh Borough Council that it will not... issue the decision notice... until the Secretary of State has completed his consideration of the application."
John Lauwerys, from AXO, said the planning process had been "pretty extraordinary".
He said: "We always thought the matter should be called in by the Secretary of State because it affects more than just Eastleigh.
"Forty-six thousand people in Winchester, Southampton and elsewhere will suffer additional noise."
He said rising emissions from flights would undermine the government's climate change targets.
Read original full article
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