20th March 2007

The press seem to have been reluctant to pick up on this story and what I view as misleading claims by the Airport. I've just sent letter below but hear there is a story planned for todays' Echo regarding the Airport's 5 year Plan that was withdrawn. All references to flights to Dublin, 80 seater planes and more commercial flights were removed from this Plan before it was resubmitted. However as my letter below points out their website still clearly talks about increasing flights - see for example their"Runway Safety Project 2007" Project Summary section.

You report claims by Staverton Airport that extending the runway and having more flights could reduce pollution (Citizen/Echo 3/03/07). Indeed their "Runway Safety Project 2007" document states their will be "increased training, corporate and scheduled flying activities." So how pollution can be reduced is a mystery.

Photo: Philip Booth outside Staverton airport

Aircraft are among the most CO2 intensive methods of travel and CO2 emitted at altitude increases global warming  by up to a factor of four. Our local Councils are signed up to cut emissions, yet Cheltenham and Gloucester Councils, who own this airport have approved expansion plans.

In contrast North Somerset District Council has just ordered an inquiry into the expansion of Bristol airport because of climate change while Uttlesford District Council rejected Stansted airport expansion citing that the effects of climate change caused by the expansion will harm the economy.

Staverton is much, much smaller but why should it be allowed to increase its CO2 emissions, when every other business in Gloucestershire is being told to cut theirs significantly? Staverton is about serving corporations and the wealthy, yet the people who are being hit first and will be hit hardest by climate change are among the poorest on earth.

Trains are capable of travelling at 300kph and are 19 times more carbon efficient than planes. 70% of EU flights are under 1000km and it is clear we should instead be expanding a fast rail network not yet more damaging air travel. We must start to take climate change seriously for ourselves and future generations.

Cllr. Philip Booth, Stroud District Green Party.