Local MEP celebrates airport ruling.

2.10.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 7th Oct 2008

West Midlands Euro- MP Liz Lynne has welcomed a High Court ruling rejecting plans to expand Coventry Airport.

Mr Justice Forbes dismissed an appeal by West Midlands International Airport Ltd seeking to overturn a decision taken by the Government last April to block a planned enlargement of the terminal building.

Liz Lynne, the Liberal Democrat MEP for the region, who has campaigned against the expansion for a number of years, said that the Court's ruling is a cause for celebration:

"I am very pleased with the case's outcome and I sincerely hope that it will close the book on the pointless, ill-advised and damaging plans to expand Coventry Airport.

"The increase in night flights and the safety implications of the overlapping flight path with Birmingham Airport are just two of the reasons that this expansion plan should not go ahead.

"There is already enough capacity at Birmingham Airport to accommodate the surrounding area, including Warwickshire and Coventry.

"This fight has been going on for years. Residents don't want it, the local council has voted against it, the Government has turned it down and now, finally, the courts have refused to allow it. I call on the airport operators to take the views of this broad coalition on board and put plans for expansion to rest."

ENDS

Notes:

Articles on Liz's past work on this issue can be found at:

http://www.lizlynne.org.uk/news/000437/euromp_backs_warwick_council_decision_to_oppose_airport_expansion.html

And

http://www.lizlynne.org.uk/news/000243/fight_against_airport_expansion_to_continue_says_euromp.html