Milton Keynes Green Party has condemned the Labour government decision to approve
the expansion of MK’s nearest airport, London Luton Airport.
MKGP spokesperson Alan Francis said, ”With this airport expansion approval the
government has shown once again that they do not care about the environment, the health
of local residents or reaching net zero carbon emissions. The extra flights will increase
CO2 emissions, exacerbating climate change, increase air pollution and noise disturbance
to residents in the Chilterns area and build over park land next to the airport.”
Luton Green Party has also condemned the government’s decision. Luton Airport is owned
by Labour-controlled Luton Borough Council through the Luton Rising company.
The government’s Planning Inspector recommended refusing the application but the
government ignored this.
Alan Francis continued, “We agree with the comment by the Aviation Environment
Federation (AEF).” The AEF said “The Government’s stance on airport capacity is at odds
with the Planning Inspectorate’s recommendation to refuse permission on environmental
grounds, and the recommendations of its statutory climate advisers, the CCC. In its
Seventh Carbon Budget, published in March, the CCC paints a clear picture for the future
direction of air travel: demand for UK air travel will need to stay at around today’s level for
the next decade to allow decarbonising technologies to develop and scale. The Climate
Change Committee argues that passenger numbers should grow no more than 2% by 2035.
Today’s approved expansion represents a sizeable proportion of that growth, even
before expansion plans at Gatwick and Heathrow are considered. And even by 2050, the
level of airport passenger growth considered by the CCC to be compatible with meeting
climate goals can be met by the current UK capacity.”
