Spitfire over Southend this afternoon could not make out what one, heading North to South

It seems as if the protest group set up to fight the planed changes at Southend might be in hot water

From the Southend Echo website:

Airport campaign group investigated over election
2:24pm Thursday 29th April 2010

ANTI-airport expansion group SAEN is to be investigated by police after breaking election laws, it has been claimed.

Letters allegedly distributed alongside SAEN leaflets are said to contain false and potentially damaging claims about some council candidates.

If this is the case, it constitute a breach of the laws surrounding elections and could lead to legal action.

This is the non-political group that has a “How NOT to vote” section on their website.

to quote them

“We want to provide information that helps you decide who to vote for, not decide for you. On this page, we tell you who not to vote for based on the assumption that SAEN supporters would not want to vote for someone who supports the runway extension and expansion of Southend Airport.”

the list go’s on to list who voted for and against and who supports the plans (but not on the planning committie)

There is to be yet another vote on the proposed changes at Southend,

Again from the Southend Echo:

Full council will vote on night flights cap at Southend Airport
9:00am Wednesday 21st April 2010

PLANS to restrict night flights at Southend Airport will be considered by Southend’s full council.

Southend Council’s Lib Dem group proposed to change the lease of the airport so there would be no flights for a specific period each night.

An all-party council committee has now agreed all members should consider banning flying for a specific period each night.

Lib Dem leader Graham Longley said possible closures could be between 1am and 4am or from 2am to 5am.

He said: “We made the point the airport decision is made, and we now have to mitigate the effects where they will be unfriendly to residents.

“Night closure for a period of time would give the residents an assurance they would get at least a period of undisturbed sleep.

“If there was an emergency they could go to another airport, like they do at City Airport, which is closed at night.

“Do we have to be open all night for just four or five flights?”

The extension of the airport runway was agreed by both Southend and Rochford councils.

But details of the lease, including the runway extension and arrangements for night flights, also have to be agreed by Southend Council, because it is the landowner of the airport.

This meeting will take place after the local and general elections, on May 6.

Tory leader Nigel Holdcroft said he wanted the whole council to decide on the lease arrangements to reassure the public, as just 17 members of the development control committee voted on the runway extension.

He said: “Assuming I’m still leader, the cabinet would make a decision on the airport lease and then refer it to full council, to participate in the debate and then vote. We will then follow the decision full council makes.

“Hopefully it will reassure members of the public who’ve been concerned about the planning process.

“It will be a choice of do we allow the runway extension and the environmental controls, or not allow the extension and continue without controls?

“Without wishing to pre-empt any decision, from my discussions with the airport it says if we try to impose a night-time ban, the airport will become inoperable because of business plans and their arrangements with the contractors.”

There are a number of road improvements planned on routes into Southend can’t remember where off the top of my head.

The roads factor is one of the main points from the protesters who shot themselves in the foot, they keep saying the airport will be a freight hub with articulated tucks all day long but then said all the passengers will get stuck in traffic!
With passenger flights taking off/landing every 5 minutes at busy times (as stated by SAEN) just where are the cargo flights going to fit in!

With so many movements Southend is going to be busier than Stansted!

I will try and keep regular updates on how things are going.

The Southend Lib Dems want further restrictions to be added to the lease to improve things for the residents particularly night closure of the airport. One major reason I will NOT be voting for them!

SAEN (the protest group) its worth having a look at what they have to say forthemselfs…

http://www.saen.org.uk/

Below is a merger of the protesters points (in bold) and a reply from the pro lobby in normal text.

A plane low over your house every 5 minutes at busy times.
Not true the airport apron is not big enough to cope with such a volume of traffic aircraft would be backed up and a stack larger than Heathrow’s would need to be set up off the coast. The airport have said flight would be roughly every 15 minutes.

Weak restrictions on night flights.
The Airport currently has permission for 915 this will now DECREASE to 120 night flights a month….
And they are not happy with that they want a total ban on night flights.

A huge increase in noise and air pollution.
Modern jets engines are far more economic; clean and quieter than the Boeing 707 & 727 type of aircraft these no longer fly passengers

Even more traffic on our congested roads.
Yes there will be more cars but this will be spred throughout the day. There would be far more if a retail park or housing estate were to be built

Eastwoodbury Lane closed.
No not true its being diverted to meet up with Nutsuda Way Southend just by RBS.

A number of people losing their homes.
The homes are owned by the airport yes the people will have to move out but they will be offered new homes.

The value of everyone else’s homes falling, putting even more people into negative equity.
Not true many estate agents say house price would rise do the proximity of the airport and its rapid links with main land Europe.

Very few new jobs being created
An expanded airport will need more people to operate it, then there is the proposed extension to business parks in the local area and a new business park.

A decline in the local economy.
Southampton saw an increase in the local economy as did Luton so why would Southend be different.

Passenger forecasts are unrealistic, making the airport expansion an expensive waste of everyone’s time.
Who said, yes there has been a decline during the recession but as the country recovers these number will return and pass pervious totals, as more money becomes available.

Public Safety Zones appear not to be taken seriously.
Why would the airport do this they are by law to enforce the safety zones failure to do so would result in a heavy fine or closure, this is one reason the church wall is being dismantled and the gates were erected at Eastwoodburry Lane.

An increase in harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Like noted previously modern jet engines are far cleaner than the previous generation, all engine designers now take the issue very seriously and design the engine to run at peek efficiently and as cleanly as possibleA

The weather is looking pants for Saturday but if its not too bad the camera will come out its bag for a few photos so those that want to see how hork is progressinbg can do so.

Very good job look amazing.

Southend Borough Council voted on the proposed extention of Southend Airports runway today, the vote was 14 to 3 in favour of the work to goahead.

However the Govenment have called the plans in and the final say will be with John Denham, how impartial will he be, given that he was formerly a campaigner for Friends of the Earth?