Agenda item

This report advises Members of the three current proposals for International Airports in Medway and Kent and recommends strong opposition to all the proposals.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the three current proposals for international airports in Medway and Kent from Boris Johnson (Mayor of London) Lord Foster and John Olsen.  This report had been considered by Cabinet on 20 December 2011.

Councillor Rodney Chambers, Leader of the Council, supported by Councillor Jarrett, Portfolio Holder for Finance, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Councillor Griffiths, supported by Councillor Maple, proposed the following amendment:

Recommendation 10.2 – “Further, this Council instructs officers to investigate the holding of a Medway referendum at the earliest opportunity to gauge public opinion on the principle of an airport in the Thames Estuary”.

In accordance with rule 11.4 of the Council Rules at the request of six Members, a vote on the amendment was recorded as follows:

For: Councillors Bowler, Colman, Craven, Gilry, Christine Godwin, Paul Godwin, Griffiths, Harriott, Hubbard, Igwe, Maple, Murray, Osborne, Price and Shaw – total 15

Against: Councillors Avey, the Worshipful Mayor of Medway (Councillor Baker), Brake, Bright, Carr, Mrs Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers, Chitty, Clarke, Cooper, Doe, Filmer, Griffin, Adrian Gulvin, Pat Gulvin, Hewett, Hicks, Iles, Irvine, Jarrett, Kearney, Kemp, Mackness, the Deputy Mayor (Councillor Maisey), Mason, O’Brien, Purdy, Rodberg, Royle, Smith, Stamp, Tolhurst, Turpin, Watson, Wicks and Wildey – total 36

On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

In accordance with rule 11.4 of the Council Rules at the request of six Members, a vote on the subatantive motion was recorded as follows:

For: Councillors Avey, the Worshipful Mayor of Medway (Councillor Baker), Bowler, Brake, Bright, Carr, Mrs Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers, Chitty, Clarke, Colman, Cooper, Craven, Doe, Filmer, Gilry, Christine Godwin, Paul Godwin, Griffiths, Adrian Gulvin, Pat Gulvin, Harriott, Hewett, Hicks, Hubbard, Igwe, Iles, Irvine, Jarrett, Kearney, Kemp, Mackness, the Deputy Mayor (Councillor Maisey), Maple, Mason, Murray, O’Brien, Osborne, Price, Purdy, Rodberg, Royle, Shaw, Smith, Stamp, Tolhurst, Turpin, Watson, Wicks and Wildey – total 50

Decision:

The Council agreed to reaffirm its strong opposition to the current plans to construct any of the new International Airport proposals in, or close to, Medway and agrees to work with neighbouring authorities, local communities, businesses and environmental groups to oppose these proposals on the following grounds:

1. It would adversely affect homes in Medway, Kent and Essex and lead to the demolition of people’s homes.

2. An airport would cause environmental destruction to sites of special scientific interest and internationally important areas where hundreds of thousands of birds migrate to annually.

3. As the Thames Estuary is a hub for hundreds of thousands of birds, there would be a significant risk of bird strike.  Even with an aggressive bird hazard management programme, such as shooting or scaring birds away, the bird strike hazard would be up to 12 times higher than at any other major UK airport (source: RSPB).

4. An airport would increase the pressure for additional major development due to the increased attractiveness of the areas of business.  This could result in vast swathes of Kent and Medway being lost to development.  At least 320 business are directly associated with Heathrow, there are hundreds more supporting the airport and Heathrow employs 72,000 people.  If the Thames Estuary airport were to replace Heathrow many of these people would move to Kent and Medway, leading to significant house building and infrastructure requirements.  One report suggests a need for up to 83,000 additional houses.

5. The airport reports do not properly consider the risks associated with operating an airport in close proximity to the existing import facility for liquified natural gas (LNG) at Thamesport and the munitions on board the Montgomery and the proximity of a container port and power stations.  Existing airports already have potential to increase capacity.  For example, Birmingham says it could double the passengers it carries.  Southend and Manston have additional capacity.

6. Better use needs to be made of existing regional airports by improving connectivity.

7. The cost of a new airport would be prohibitive (up to £70 billion).

8. The noise, light and air pollution would be intolerable and exacerbate CO² emissions.

9. The airport would be fogbound and affected by high winds.

10. Nearly 9 out of 10 international airlines that use Heathrow are against an estuary airport and over ¾ of people polled in the UK.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 10:05pm for 5 minutes. During this period, the Worshipful Mayor of Medway (Councillor Baker) withdrew from the meeting. The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Maisey) chaired the remainder of the meeting.