NEW ANTI-RUNWAY CAMPAIGN RISES TO CHALLENGE

07-01-2008

Environmental activists have launched a new online campaign today in protest at Birmingham Airport’s plans for a thrusting runway extension. They’ve created a new website called Flyagra …the question is, can they keep it up?

Flyagra is the brainchild of Friends of the Earth and Birmingham Airport anti-Noise Group.

Witty name apart, the site is sober critique of the case for bringing long-haul flight capability to the West Midlands.

Using the catchline "Flyagra Keeps You Up All Night", it claims that the development would expose more people over a wider geographical area to noise pollution; and that it will make the creation of a second runway (currently on the back burner) more likely in the long run.

The economic and environmental benefits of a longer runway are also questioned.

Airport bosses hope the new tarmac will be in operation by 2012, and forecast that passenger numbers could treble to 27 million passengers a year by 2030.

Birmingham Friends of the Earth Campaigner Mary Horesh said, “"Last November's Airport Master Plan confirmed what many suspected: BIA has no credible climate change policy.

“Instead, we had only a token gesture of support for aviation's eventual inclusion under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, and a handful promises to promote public transport and energy efficiency, none of which has any bearing on carbon dioxide emissions from aircraft.

“But we know that climate-changing emissions from BIA's operations are forecast to grow three-fold in the next twenty-five years if the airport expands as planned.

"As planning authority for BIA, Solihull Council will be under tremendous pressure from the business community and the other West Midlands local authorities to grant planning permission for the runway extension.

“But it would be highly irresponsible of Councillors to give the green light to a development that could send carbon dioxide emissions literally sky-high."

To see our earlier story “Brum Airport In It For Long Haul With Runway Extension” click here

To see www.flyagra.co.uk click here.