Last night Shepway District Council voted by 27 votes to 12 to approve an extension to the runway and a new terminal building.
We think this is a bad idea!
Thank you to all those who did contact the Council last night. There is a long way to go on this subject.
I just can't believe how this ridiculous scheme keeps staggering on, in the face of all logic. Manston already has the runway, the infrastructure and a flight path free of nuclear power stations & gunnery ranges but even that cannot make a profit.
I think one problem with Dungeness is that it does not fall into the range of picturesque landscapes appreciated by English people. Devoid of hills and woods and already compromised by ribbon development, power stations and pylons, it's all too easy to dismiss it as a worthless wasteland.
Why would anyone want to fly from Lydd anyway ? And what about the channel tunnel right next door - and the continuing inbalance between (low carbon) modern train travel & high carbon air travel ?
Absolutely the wrong decision and how short sighted. Regrettably its the lure of jobs in a recession that swayed it and counsellors under pressure to (rightfully) look after the people in their ward. The ironic thing is that as the area is denuded of its uniqueness and beauty, visitors will stop coming and jobs will be lost. Will the new jobs replace those lost? Overall there will probably be no net gain but a huge net loss in terms of the local and very special environment. As a Land agent (for a short while) for the area for the RSPB I may be biased but the economic and environmental arguments just don't stack up when looking in from the outside on a local level and certainly not when looking at it nationally. What a shame.
Think there must be some hidden things in the scheme as surely all the cheap mass flights will still be from main airports.
Gill - thanks, and I know we can count on you for further help and support.