Disappointing news today on our challenge to the Lydd Airport expansion. Here's our statement on this case:
An application by London Ashford Airport Limited to expand its Lydd Airport in Kent has been the subject of a High Court challenge by the RSPB. The RSPB has opposed the expansion of the Airport since it was first put forward in 2006. Judgment was received on this morning and the RSPB’s challenge was unsuccessful.
Everyone at the RSPB, our loyal one million members, and a significant number of local people who have opposed the Airport expansion, will be very disappointed by this decision today. This is a complex case, and we need to review the judgment thoroughly before we decide what our next steps will be, but we are not ruling anything out.
Dungeness is one of the most important wildlife sites in the world, it is protected at global, European and UK levels. It is home to species found hardly anywhere else in the UK. It is also a crossroads for migrating birds stopping off on their epic global journeys. It is therefore important that these crucial decisions about the future of the area are taken in the right way.
The RSPB has been protecting birds and the wildlife of Dungeness for over a century – we have a deep and profound commitment to the area.
We shall make further statements on this in due course. Please also follow our Saving Special Places blog.
As Winston Churchill said, "in a war there are many, many set backs and disappointments"......"but never, never give in unless it is sound common sense"