Four protesters that went on to Southend Airport runway appeared in court yesterday (14th) all four have pleaded Not Guilty to trespassing into a restricted area without permission.

The four a Male 20, A female 19 from both from Norwich, A male 55 from Middlesex and a male 38 from Southeast London will now face trial, a pre-trial review has been set for 11th January.

Strange how none are from Southend…..!

if you missed the video they made its here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhgQrPf1kq0

Two bits of news:

There is a Facebook campian to re-name Southend Airport: Lee Brilleaux Dr Feelgood Airport… Ignoring the fact there are far more appropriate people who if any name change was to happen should come along way before a rock star who had nothing to do with the airport.

And from the local rag…

CAMPAINERS agaist Southend Airport’s expantion have finally conceded defeat after last ditch court action failed, Saen (Stop Airport Extention Now!) had gone back to the High Court to seek an appeal hearing to stop the extention of the runway, Lord Justice Carwath refused an application to reopen the appeal for the judicial review over SBC’s grantong approval for the works to be carryed out. Dennis Walker admitted it was the end of the line to try and stop the current permitted develpmets going ahead, Mr Walker said “It was something pursued by our lowyers on the basis we were not satisfied with the way the appeal was conducted, all leagal avenues have been explored, now it is a qustion of keeping on top of anything else the airport does and making sure it sticks to requirements placed on it in terms of night flights”

Boeing 777’s are coming to Southend!

Well acording to one of the anti-airport supporters they are, all freighter versions for Stobarts to unload on to trucks then road the airfreight round the country, ignoring the fact that Southend is more or less at the end of the road and is not exactly well placed as a major freight hub.

Flybe have confirmed that they will be pulling out of the Southend – Jersey summer service next year. This is not a reflection on the service operated out of Southend but on satuation of the route with a new Easyjet weekday service, scheduled to start next year.

Just waiting on the anti-airport lobby to latch on to the story and roll out the age old “wrong place for an airport” or “Southend is not popular with airlines” comments they normally spout on about.

Whilst not directly linked to the developments at Southend,

A new DVD has been released containing archive footage from the airports glory days, it is avalable from the Southend Tourist Information Office at £10.

Footage includes:
A busy day in the fifties
Ekco at the airport
Car ferries
1968 airshow (with Victor touch and go) 😮
Take the Blue Plane (AirUK)
Viscount Farewell
Accidents
Corridor to the Sky (1969)

Well worth getting a copy whilst stocks last, some great footage.

The latest news from Southend some good some bad.

recieved via Twitter

Bad News:
Jetsfaction have delayed the start of the Southend—Munster service no details have been given for the delay but rumours are that there are delays in leasing an aircraft for the route.

Good News.
6200 new jobs could be on the way to Southend and the surrounding area by 2021 after an agreement was signed between the council and the airport to build two new business parks and extended a third. However the final approval lies with central government who need to rubber stamp the proposals, and people can object to the plans and ask for a judicial review if they can prove that the plans are legally floored.

Why anyone would object to (what could be) such a large number of jobs being created is beyond me.

These two quite high up over the middle of the Thames Estuary this afternoon.

Sorry about the poor quality was out on the PS Waverley visiting the Thames Forts, could bearly hear them over the engines and the thud thud thud of the paddles on the water.