News / Politics
Mayor refuses to share views on airport expansion
The West of England mayor has refused to share her views on the planned expansion of Bristol Airport.
Helen Godwin said she would “hold her counsel” over the airport potentially expanding to 15 million passengers a year, which Greens criticised as “disappointing”.
North Somerset Council is currently determining whether to permit the airport to expand, with a longer runway and flights to America and the Middle East.
Metro mayors will soon get the power to have the final say, above councils, over approving planning permission for important sites.
The Labour mayor runs the West of England Combined Authority, which covers Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, and soon potentially North Somerset too.
She was grilled by councillors on the combined authority’s scrutiny committee on Monday.
Protests have been staged in Bristol and North Somerset to try and halt plans for Bristol Airport’s expansion – photo: Rob Browne
Godwin said: “North Somerset [Council] is considering the application.
“Bristol Airport is in North Somerset. Subject to agreement on Friday and ministerial approval, they are hoping to join the West of England Combined Authority.
“So given that reality, and the responsibility that comes with those new potential planning powers, I don’t think it would be the right thing for me to pass comment on the planning application at this stage.
“I wouldn’t want to do anything that would prejudice any further role I might have.”
A public consultation on expanding the airport to 15 million passengers a year closes on June 28.
A law recently given royal assent will give regional mayors new powers on planning, so they can “call in” controversial applications and review whether they should be given permission.
The airport is currently trying to get planning permission from North Somerset Council to expand to 100,000 flights per year – photo: John Wimperis
Green councillor Jerome Thomas, chair of the scrutiny committee, said: “The application to expand Bristol Airport will result in unacceptably high carbon emissions, noise pollution, traffic congestion, and intrusion of the airport services onto common land.
“I know that there will be lots of people disappointed that you’re not able as a regional leader to express your views, or that you don’t feel able to at this stage on such an important regional issue.”
The previous application for expansion from 10 million to 12 million passengers was refused by North Somerset Council, but then overturned by the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
This was later confirmed by the High Court, after an unsuccessful legal challenge from campaigners.
Main photo: Bristol Airport
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
