Festive Deadline Angers City Airport Residents' Group

A residents' group that is leading opposition to plans to extend the runway at George Best Belfast City Airport has run into a problem.

Residents in east Belfast reacted angrily to the recent news that a planning application had been lodged and have already called for a public inquiry, saying they will fight the plans all the way.

Now, the 'public consultation' that is taking place instead of the favoured inquiry has been branded a sham by campaigners.

Belfast City Airport Watch, an umbrella organisation for residents' groups, said the runway extension would constitute an "irreversible nightmare" for east and south Belfast - which lies under the flight path.

Their anger is now being directed at the Planning Service as it is allowing just four weeks for objections to the application - with what they have branded "a bizarre Boxing Day deadline" for submissions.

"The deadline is utterly ludicrous," commented Fiona McKinley, spokesperson for Belfast City Airport Watch.

"The DoE could have held this consultation after Christmas - but, instead, they waited for a fortnight after the airport announced its planning application - and then said they were allowing just four weeks for objections with a nonsensical deadline of Boxing Day.

"This means people don't even have four weeks - because their letters risk getting caught up in the Christmas post if they don't write in now.

"It also greatly reduces the number of likely responses because people are so busy in the run-up to Christmas," she said.

But campaigners are also furious that the Planning Service has told them it won't allow objections on the straightforward grounds of annoyance caused by aircraft noise.

Instead, objectors are supposed to link their objections to issues raised in two weighty documents - the airport's 600-page Environmental Impact Statement on its plans or the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan, a document that runs to seven volumes and costs £65 - although it can be viewed at the Planning Service's offices during working hours.

"There's no way you can expect ordinary people to plough through lengthy reports like this, even if they can get a copy," said Ms McKinley.

"This whole process is hugely unfair and undemocratic," she continued, insisting that the Environment Minister, Sammy Wilson, must act immediately to call a public inquiry and stop his officials from proceeding any further with this complete sham of a consultation."

Meanwhile, residents' groups have organised three public meetings to provide people with information and advice on how to object to this planning application.

These are on Monday 8th December, 7pm at Ballynafeigh Community Development Association, 283 Ormeau Road; Wednesday 10th December, 8pm at the Old School House, Church Road, Holywood and on Monday 15th December, 7pm at the Connswater Community Centre, Severn Street.

See: City Airport Extension Plan Flies Into Trouble

(BMcC)