An aerial view of Lydd Airport

by Sam Lennon

A campaign group has vowed to fight the government’s decision to allow the expansion of Lydd Airport.

Lydd Airport Action Group says it will appeal against this to the High Court on the grounds of nuclear safety because of the closeness of the airport to the Dungeness complex.

It has already complained to the European Commission on this and is waiting for it to give a verdict.

LAAG co-ordinator Louise Barton said: We believe there is scope for legal challenge.

“This was entirely a political decision and flies in the face of scientific evidence and commonsense.

“We believe it was based on an economic case and not enough on the nuclear issue and the environment.”

The approval for creating a 294-metre runway expansion and new terminal building was made by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government following the recommendation to do so by the planning inspector.

A protest by the Lydd Airport Action Group in 2011

This followed a public inquiry that spanned seven months and ended in September 2011.

Mrs Barton said her group would study the inspector’s 300-plus page report before submitting its appeal.

It argues that the development infringes at least two European Directives, on habitat and nuclear safety.

It will appeal first and foremost on the nuclear issue, arguing that the airport is less than 60 seconds’ flight time from Dungeness A and B.

The runway extension would transform the small airport into a regional one supporting Boeing 737s and Airbus 320s.

Related article:

Airport expansion plans given government approval

These are aircraft that the Britain’s Office for Nuclear Regulation says has the potential to cause the highest category nuclear accident in a crash.

But LAAG complains that the ONR still ruled last year that the chances of planes crashing into the nuclear complex were negligible.

LAAG has since gone to the EC, the European Union’s executive,which is now in discussion with the British government over nuclear concerns.

The EC is still due to make a judgement.

Development supporters Friends of Lydd Airport Group have argued that there had never been a case of an aeroplane crashing into a nuclear installation and the Lydd flight paths steer aircraft away Dungeness.

But Lydd councillor Clive Goddard said: “I think the anti-development groups should now accept defeat and let the development happen.

“Hopefully even LAAG will eventually see reason. Let’s see this expansion go ahead and let’s do it all together.”

Cllr Goddard had been a Lydd town councillor for 10 years and a Shepway district member for the area for six.

He had sat through the marathon seven-hour Shepway meeting when it was

voted through by councillors in 2010.

He said: “I have been fighting for it for years. This development is not just good for Romney Marsh but also Kent and Sussex as a whole. It is all a plus.”