Decision details

This report will brief Members on the Thames Estuary Airport - Feasibility Review, which was commissioned by the Mayor for London and published in October 2009, which considered the main advantages and disadvantages of an estuary airport.

Relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Regeneration, Community and Culture

2/2010 The Cabinet agreed to recommend that Full Council reaffirm its opposition to the plans to construct a new Thames Estuary Airport and that Douglas Oakervee (the author of the report) be contacted to: a) advise that any justification for the location of a new airport in the south east could only be considered once detailed London and the south east connectivity and accessibility studies had been undertaken; b) seek to clarify the route of the road and rail links, as detailed in the report; c) draw to his attention the risks associated with the close proximity of the existing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import facility at Thamesport and the proposed London Array wind farm; d) seek early meaningful proposals for environmental mitigation in line with the requirements of the EU Birds Directive and the EU Habitats Directive.

The feasibility review produced by Douglas Oakervee to construct and operate a major international airport close to Medway would have devastating impacts on residents' amenity and on the environment of Medway and should therefore be rejected.