Bristol Airport Expansion Plans

25/05/10

Local Council Gives Green Light To Expansion Plans

Bristol Airport has had plans passed by its local counsel to extend the airport and bring it inline with other major airports. Although they still need a final approvement from the government the airport is confident it will secure the future of the airport for many years to come whilst bringing a number of new jobs and a financial boost to the regional economy.

But it will face a struggle as the new government binned plans for a 3rd runway at Heathrow earlier this month and announced any applications from Gatwick and Stansted would be told the same If the airport development plans are approved, Bristol will be able to handle around 10 million passengers a year which is nearly double the 6 million it currently handles.

There are though some conditions the airport will have to meet such as the building of new link road and improvements to public transport. There will also be a restriction on night flights and annual passenger numbers.

But not everyone is jumping for joy over the extension plans, Jeremy Birch a spokesman for Stop Bristol Airport Expansion said they were not giving up and would be urging the government to hold a public enquiry. Claiming it would be bad for Bristol’s economy and cause further damage to the country’s climate emissions all of which must be taken into account.

The protesters said although they were disappointed with the local councils decision they would not give up there fight.