“Local communities have today been advised where future airport capacity and related infrastructure – in the short, medium and long-term – is being supported by the Airports Commission”, Cllr Jamie Macrae, Chairman of the Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group of Local Authorities has stated.
None of the long-term proposals outside south east England that were considered by the Commission are being supported. We now need to look at the impact this will have on the growth of regional economies.
Phase two of the Commission’s work must deliver a thorough economic assessment if local communities are to capture their share of the aviation sector’s economic and social benefits.
The costs of stimulated demand for land, housing & commercial activity, integrated road and rail provision, blight and emissions – noise, air, and climate change, must all be clearly accounted for.
SASIG Councils recognise the significant role aviation plays in our lives, but while the industry is recognised as global its impacts are disproportionately local.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1 The Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group of the Local Government Association (SASIG) has a broad national membership of Local Authorities but does not speak on behalf of the Local Government Association as a whole.
2 SASIG Local Authorities have a focus on aviation, representing more than 12 million residents in the only national, specialist, aviation alliance bringing together all aspects of current airport operations, future expansion and impacts.
3 SASIG is actively contributing to the work of the Airports Commission, representing its membership’s interests and encompassing all political views.
4 The aviation industry stimulates demand for commercial and housing land for the employment & business activity attracted to airports, needs room for expansion, and integrated surface access for employees, freight passengers and other road and rail users. There are health and climate impacts from airport activity and road vehicles; changes to local employment (positive and negative); issues around enabling travel while reducing carbon emissions; and, of course, more flights meaning more noise.
5 All these issues need to be managed locally, with Councils balancing the economic and other benefits with noise, congestion, air pollution, climate change and blight burdens of aviation.
6 People affected by airport operations are not solely the service users – freight operators and passengers, but also residents and businesses in communities around airports.
7 Improved economic assessment of aviation would ensure we capture the value of the sector for the whole country. Lack of a transparent, thorough assessment compromises growth, as well as quality of life and wellbeing for the worst affected communities.
8 The Airports Commission programme is online at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/airports-commission.
9 For more information, please contact Cllr Jamie Macrae, SASIG Chair, [email protected], or Anna Mahoney, SASIG Director, [email protected], (020) 8541 9459 / 07968 832687, www.sasig.org.uk
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