One of Boris Johnson’s closest aides accused Medway Council of lacking ambition for residents during a heated debate on the Thames Estuary airport.

The Mayor of London’s aviation adviser Daniel Moylan was one of six panellists who took questions from an audience at Cliffe Memorial Hall on Tuesday (October 30).

Many of his answers were booed and interrupted by people in the hall, who are fighting more proposals for an airport on their doorstep, 10 years after the Labour government considered building an airport on the village.

The council, Medway’s three Conservative MPs and the RSPB are all against an airport, arguing it would cost too much money and cause untold environmental damage.

Supporters claim it would bring investment and jobs to the area.
Mr Moylan said too many people in the area wanted to “close the debate” and said although there would be a price to pay, the project would have some benefits for the area.

He said: “We do need to do something, we need a proper airport. Where it’s going to be is a different story.”

A killer argument against the idea has yet to be brought up, he claimed.
Another panellist, deputy council leader Alan Cllr Jarrett rejected Mr Moylan’s assertion and said an airport would “blight lives and destroy communities.”

For full report see Friday's Medway Messenger.