News / Bristol airport
Councillors lend support to save Common from airport ‘land grab’
Campaigners and councillors are making a last push to save a 100-acre green space threatened by Bristol Airport.
The consultation on the airport’s latest planning application to expand to 15 million passengers closes on June 28.
But groups have complained to North Somerset Council (NSC) as the web portal to comment on the application went offline for three days over the weekend which coincided with several campaign events.
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“Bristol Airport’s expansion plan is very complex, with many serious considerations that people are deliberating upon. It is a sensitive issue and forming a reply to the NSC planning portal can be a lengthy and difficult process. For the portal to be out of operation this weekend was outrageous,” said Debbie Johnson, chair of Save Felton Common.
“We have called upon NSC to make a public apology, extend the planning deadline to compensate for this lost time by at least one more week, and ensure the public is aware.”
North Somerset Council has not responded to a request for comment.
At least 150 people gathered on Felton Common on June 19 for a final protest against Bristol Airport’s expansion plans – photo: Save Felton Common
The Save Felton Common group and Bristol Airport Action Network are vehemently opposing the airport’s latest plans which include installing a strip of landing lights that will bisect Felton Common.
The new lights will enable planes flying in from America and the Middle East to land safely.
But campaigners say the airport is big enough and that, as well as irrevocably damaging the archaeologically and ecologically significant Common, the bigger planes will fly lower and produce more noise pollution and climate-damaging carbon emissions.
Felton Common is legally designated land for the people and local farmers have the right to graze their animals there – photo: Bristol Airport Action Network
More than 150 people gathered on the evening of Friday, June 19 in a show of solidarity for the campaign, with passing traffic showing support by honking their horns.
“Friday evening’s demonstration saw a brilliant turn-out of people…in protest of the airport’s expansion and its planned land grab of a significant chunk of Felton Common,” said Johnson.
“The impact of eight rows of lights reaching 8.5m high, stretching 240m, with 3m high fences would change the Common forever and be enormously detrimental to the ecology and environment.
“Felton Common is a designated Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI). It is an example of a rare type of grassland… (and) supports a wide range of plants and wildlife (including) many endangered species of plants and birds.
“As a country we cannot afford to see more and more precious land such as this being sacrificed for financial gain.”
Bristol Green Party has joined forces with Greens in North Somerset and BANES to oppose the expansion.
Izzy Russell, councillor for Ashley Ward, said: “Not only will this expansion add hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere to impact our rapidly changing climate, it will not drive forward growth.”
They cite evidence from the New Economics Foundation that the 2015-19 boom in air travel – largely accounted for by frequent flyers who, at less than three per cent of the population, made up 30 per cent of all flights – did not increase UK productivity or GDP growth.
The number of UK residents not flying at all each year also increased at the same time.
Campaigners are protesting on ecological, climate change and public health as well as concerns around increased traffic – photo: Save Felton Common
Bridget Petty, Green Group leader on North Somerset Council, said: “This is the only airport in the country with no rail, no motorways or even a dual carriageway to get to it. Our local villages can take no more. The airport is big enough.
“For those of us fighting to prevent total climate and nature collapse, another airport expansion is a slap in the face.”
And Annemieke Waite, councillor for Winford ward, called for protection for “treasured public green space” Felton Common: “The climate, ecological and community impacts of more flights, larger aircraft, increased traffic and further habitat destruction cannot be ignored. Once these precious green spaces are lost, they are gone forever.
“Felton Common has existed as designated common land since medieval times. We have a responsibility to safeguard (it) for future generations and to stand up for nature, public access to green space, and the wellbeing of our communities.”
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BAAN will host an event at the Tobacco Factory, Southville, and online for those that would like help and advice in responding to the consultation.
The in-person gathering will take place from 5.45pm and the virtual event starts at 7.30pm, both on Wednesday, June 24. The group has also posted guidance online.
Bristol Airport said: “The proposal to install approach lighting on the Common would not affect any bridleways or public rights of way. Replacement land would be provided so there would be no overall loss of open space.
“To address the impact we have proposed measures including off-site planting, resources to help maintain open spaces within the local area and a dedicated community fund for our nearest communities. We understand how important the space is to local people.
“Where possible, the scheme has been designed to avoid or reduce adverse effects on valued ecological features. Where [avoiding or reducing impacts] is not possible we are identifying measures to mitigate impacts and manage environmental effects.
“We are bringing forward proposals for what we consider to be responsible growth, within current UK carbon budgets required to meet net zero emissions by 2050.”
Read and comment on the planning application at n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/planning-building-control/planning-applications/bristol-airport-proposals
Main image: Bristol Airport Action Network
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