By Dan Bloom

Lydd Airport's expansion plans hang in the balance again after being dealt a blow by the government today.

The decision has been removed from Shepway District Council's control, adding what could be years to the £25 million plan for a new runway and terminal.

The Department for Communities and Local Government, led by communities secretary Eric Pickles, "called in" the decision on the airport at 3pm today.

The Government will now decide whether the threat to the area's wildlife is sufficient to cancel the scheme.

The move has been hailed as a coup by opponents including the RSPB but will disappoint Shepway Council, which approved the plans earlier this year.

Audio: RSPB reaction to Lydd Airport plans being called in

A record 14,000 pieces of correspondence were received by the Government Office for the South East regarding the expansion before the decision was taken.

But only 200 of these were arguing for the expansion, according to Louise Barton of Lydd Airport Action Group.

"We thought this decision was inevitable," she said.

"We believe all the evidence produced by ourselves and environmental groups shows the airport will cause an adverse impact on the environment.

"There is no public need for an airport here. We believe the inspectors will see that."

Chris Corrigan, RSPB Regional Director for South East England, said: "The Dungeness peninsula is one of the most important and sensitive wildlife habitats in the UK.

"When combined with considerable local opposition and the increasingly significant impacts on climate change, it seems only right that the airport expansion plans are given the fullest and most rigorous examination before being allowed to proceed.

"The RSPB has long maintained that a Public Inquiry is the best and only way to do this."

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