High Court ruling shows Airport Consultation is deeply flawed

12.00.00am GMT Wed 27th Nov 2002

West Midlands Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne has branded the Department for Transport’s consultation on the expansion of air traffic as deeply flawed after a High Court ruling that it was "irrational and unfair" to exclude Gatwick airport from being considered in the exercise.

Liz Lynne said:

“I am by not for a minute saying that Gatwick airport should expand, but it is very odd that it was entirely excluded from the consultation process, while utterly barmy and impractical proposals such as the one to build a new airport between Rugby and Coventry came from nowhere. It smacks of hidden agendas and suggests that Warwickshire residents cannot afford to be complacent about the likelihood of the new airport being built.

“Fortunately, it is clear that in the main, local people have risen to the challenge. As we near the end of the formal consultation process, I would like to congratulate all concerned for an excellent and high profile campaign.

“If they press ahead with the proposal now, it will be one of the most devastatingly undemocratic acts we have ever seen from a UK government.”