Communities Against Runway Expansion

1 Continuation of Association: The position regarding the necessity for CARE to continue in existence was put forward for discussion and decision. It was agreed that a watching brief remain in place in the light of possible new, well financed, owners of Shoreham Airport. The Committee will remain on alert and a formal committee meeting would be called if the need arose.

2. Financial Report, etc.: Marian Covey reported that the CARE bank account stood at £278.44. There were certain amounts outstanding: those, plus the anticipated expenditure on distributing the Newsletter would account (virtually) for that balance. It was agreed that, even thought the Committee would remain in office, no subscriptions would be called for and no donations accepted. If it became necessary to reactivate the CARE campaign, an appeal for funds would be made.

3. General: In general discussion it was highlighted that the roads infrastructure within the environs of the airport site was becoming worse than ever, with the amount of new residential development taking place in the area being mainly responsible. The Hon Sec is to research the position of CARE representation on such bodies as the local community liaison committee and the board of management of the airport itself.

August 2007

The development of Shoreham Airport has been delayed with the news that a hanger which they planned to demolish has just been made a listed building!!

July 2007

FLY BOYS

RM can reveal that Erinaceous, dodgy owners of Shoreham Airport, are in talks not to sell-off Shoreham Airport as reported in the Argus, but to lease it out. This is having only bought the bugger off Brighton and Worthing councils last year at a knock-down £9m – don’t tell the council anyone, but it was actually worth £21m!

Erinaceous shares have been taking a major tumble since they’ve been investigated over an alleged £10m fraud involving overvaluing properties. This on top of major debts announced earlier this year.

In a bid to claw back funds, they are now in lease-out talks with asset-strippers, or should that be private equity firms, 3i and Bridgepoint. If either of this lot get involved then the pressure for a new runway and yet more flights will rise quicker than yer average Harrier jump jet.

All this comes at a time when Erinaceous have put in plans to Adur Council for new hangars, terminal building expansion, business units and wait for it…eight new apartments to be built yards from the runway.

Madness? Apparently not, aviation enthusiasts are well keen and will have state-of-the-art sound-proofing to protect them from the rough music of 75,000 flights a year – presumably a concrete bunker and a pair of titanium headphones.

If it gets the go-ahead, these will be the first and no doubt last new homes at to be built at a British airport. Communities Against Runway Expansion (CARE) member Jean Kitchener told RM: “There is quite a high risk of flooding on the site, which the Environment Agency points out. Basically they shouldn’t be built there. We’ve only just had flights to Paris added twice a day.”

The plans, which form part of Adur’s core strategy document, have already been challenged by a government inspector “concerned about the soundness” of the strategy. No kidding, building homes on a flood plain, yards from a runway!

CARE say they will continue monitoring pollution not just around the airport itself but also in communities and schools under or near any new flight path.

The next Adur core strategy meeting on Sept 18 has been cancelled but CARE plan to raise awkward questions once again at the next. Time for a crash landing! See www.adurcare.wanadoo.co.uk

May 2007

Shoreham Airport - renamed Brighton City Airport in 2005

C.A.R.E (Communities Against Runway Expansion)
Chairman : Eric Williams contact: eric.williams73@ntlworld.com

Are you aware that if the powers that be get their way, there could be an extension and a re-alignment of the hard runway at Shoreham airport?

This is being planned to increase the number of flights and to allow the use of large four engine jet airliners. The take off and landing approach is likely to be directly over much of south Lancing. The residents of Lancing and Shoreham were supposed to have been invited to participate in the review of options within a leaflet sent out from Shoreham airport, now renamed Shoreham (BRIGHTON CITY) airport, although not many people seem to have received it

If the use of large jet aircraft does go ahead, the flights will not be aimed at the general public to get local holiday flights, but are intended for the much more expensive business class. We, the residents are not likely to see many benefits if this plan goes through. What we will see is additional noise, increased pollution and increased traffic on the A27 and A259 as well as a vast depreciation of the value of our properties. The airport currently belongs to Brighton and Worthing councils, it appears to be councillors from these areas that want this expansion, will their homes be affected by the increase in air traffic?

Why is the expansion wanted? We are told that it is to make money to pay off the debts that the airport currently has.

C.A.R.E (Communities against runway expansion) is a pressure group that has been formed to fight this expansion. Apathy is our main enemy, many people are saying “it will probably never happen “, however if we wait until these plans go ahead it will be too late to stop it.

We need your help to :-
1. Raise funds for campaign expenses by paying a subscription of £2 or by making a voluntary donation.
2. By active participation and working together to promote the campaign.

January 2008

MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETING

August 2007

July 2007

FLY BOYS

May 2007

Shoreham Airport - renamed Brighton City Airport in 2005