Lydd Airport - No Expansion graphic

The Threat: Under Darkening Skies

Today: 10th Mar 2010

Lydd Airport (LAA), lying at the heart of the unique landscape of Dungeness, has a dream, an ambition, to become the 'Gatwick of the South Coast'.

From a small time, regional enterprise now, to a big city operation. At present, the airport handles 5,000 passengers per annum (ppa), via prop monoplanes and the occasional executive jet. By 2017 this could be 2 million ppa in planes more familiar with Easyjet & Ryanair passengers (e.g. Boeing 737 series and similar). All this with more buildings, concrete, noise, pollution and horrendous road traffic levels.

All this promised within a decade and yet more to come!

What does all this mean?

For People:

Ask anyone living close to a modern airport what life is like. Go to Stansted, Gatwick, Luton or Heathrow. Witness noise levels, which often breach levels dangerous to public health, experience pollution in the form of jet engine exhaust gases, roads clogged with commercial and private vehicles and more. No wonder aviation growth is a major global concern.

What about the young people, what about their futures?

Surely, any such major enterprise will generate employment and career opportunities for local people?

To a limited extent - yes it will. Low paid jobs and a sprinkling of higher remunerated and skilled posts, but these will be tempered by the inevitable recruitment from outside the area. It is also likely that an airline company that operates here will bring in its own staff from elsewhere.

What about existing employment levels?

A substantial holiday, leisure and tourism industry thrives along the coast from Folkestone to Winchelsea. With expected low-level flight activity actually routed above many beaches and seaside holiday parks, this existing source of local employment will almost inevitably contract, resulting in a negative effect on long-term employment levels, even when set against the gains accruing from the Airport and associated facilities.

What about the wildlife and the environment?

Dungeness is a unique wetland area and ecosystem, providing essential habitat for migrating birds, and many other rare species including the Great Crested Newt, medicinal leech & lichen. The proposed runway extension will directly encroach onto this unique habitat. Pollution from increased aviation will damage the habitat to such an extent, that certain species, such as lichen, will be unable to tolerate this.

The visiting swans, geese and other birds will continue to come at all times of the year to join the indigenous species on the lakes and gravel pits of the Romney Marsh. Birds and jet planes do not mix well! A recent lucky escape in Manchester in April 2007 when 2 herons were sucked into a plane bound for Lanzarote, highlights this.

Climate change is the greatest threat of today. The KMSA cannot see how the government's plans to expand airports across the country are compatible with curbing carbon dioxide emissions, one of the principal greenhouse gases responsible for human induced climate change. If the airline industry is allowed to grow as planned, it will account for all UK carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. Although a global problem, we all have to act. Indeed, within Shepway District Council's Local Environment Quality Strategy, 'promoting reduction in CO2 emissions' is stated.