I’m posting this at the end of long day in which the rhetoric around building a four runway airport smack bang in the Thames Estuary has gone up a couple of notches.
It sounds like the story blurted out into the media – with overtones of posturing around the elections for the Mayor of London. Dastardly politics, some might say, seeking to wreck chunks of Kent – who’s residents can’t vote for the Mayor of London.
In some respects, though the temperature has risen, we are where we were yesterday, preparing for a major airport consultation (that was signalled in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement) – and we will contribute to that fully. We’ll do what we need to do to help you comment and add your voice in this consultation.
But let's not kid ourselves, this feels like we are in the first skirmishes of what looks like a battle royal and, here at the RSPB we’re ready to step up (again!)
I’ve spent the day planning action with a range of organisations and individuals – more on that soon. One massive advantage we have is that the close relations forged between the RSPB and local people in the battle to see this bonkers proposal a decade ago (the No Airport at Cliffe campaign) will be the backbone of our campaigning this time round. The Friends of North Kent Marshes formed in the teeth of the last version of this proposal and iIf you are a twitter user, do follow them @fonkm.
If you would like some more background Charlie Moores interviewed me recently for the Talking Naturally podcast - and you can listen here.
There will be more on this story - and you will be able to keep up with it on this blog as the consultation unfolds and how you can step up.
And you can follow me on twitter too.
Hi Sooty - yes, and it's tough, travel is a wonderful thing, but overdone it rots the planet
Better still everybody fly half as much and would never have been thought of.
Thanks Birdie Wild ... the protection of the Thames Estuary and the North Kent Marshes is important and can't be ignored, its up to us to ensure that it is fully recognised in the airport consultation starting in March, alongside the risk of bird strike to planes and human life, the ramping up of carbon and its impact on efforts to reduce emissions and the the failure to make a good case for the airport.
Lots to fight for!
Why is it that protection is ignored by planners when the protection is there to protect against, amongst other things, such as them in the first place. If the airport goes ahead, it will devastate the wildlife dependant on that area for generations to come, long after the airport it self will have been built, used and demolished. If the decision to build goes ahead, it will be terrible, wicked, shameful and evil.