Following the site visit to Dungeness which took place on the first day back there was a slow start to the enquiry on Wednesday as ornithological experts for both sides finalised a statement of common ground.
The purpose of this document was to come some agreement on the key habitats and species which could be impacted by the proposals, within certain sound parameters.
With this finally signed off, the afternoon session saw the examination of Dr Armstrong, the bird witness acting for the airport. This addressed visual and noise disturbance to birds on other Special Protection Areas adjacent to airports and the potential impacts to birds by the proposed expansion at Lydd.
Yesterday saw Dr Underhill-Day, the RSPB’s expert ornithologist, presenting his evidence which concerned the potential for impact on the SPA from the airport expansion, and considered factors such as lateral distance from the runway and flight path, altitude, noise levels and the capacity of different species to adapt to disturbance.
In the final days next week, closing submissions will be heard from all parties and we will then have to wait for the Inspector to make his recommendations to Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, who will have the final decision over whether the expansion can go ahead or not.
To keep up to date go to: http://www.shepway.gov.uk/content/view/201040/211/
To find out more about what is happening near you go to: www.rspb.org.uk/nearyou