Representation by Ghulam Abbas
- Date submitted
- 11 June 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Dear Sir/Madam, As a resident of Luton, I am writing to express my support for the planning application to expand London Luton Airport submitted by Luton Borough Airport. The expansion is desperately needed to help rejuvenate the local economy and create more jobs for the growing population of Luton, particularly our young people. The airport expansion will help make Luton a better and more prosperous place to live creating thousands of jobs and boosting the local economy. At a time of rising costs and inflation where everyone in struggling, particularly those on the breadline some positive economic development is desperately needed. Through Luton Rising the Council (via the expansion) will be able to better support and help the most vulnerable residents - 53p from every passenger travelling through Luton is invested in support local projects and services to support the most vulnerable. Also, the expansion is instrumental to delivering the Council's Luton 2040 which is about creating a carbon neutral town where no one lives in poverty. The good thing about the airport expansion is that it will be done in a sustainable way to protect the environment and local residents, which will be unique and will be the first time an airport has done that. Growing the airport will also act as a catalyst for Luton to become a leading hub for green technology, research and finance. It will therefore play a crucial role in delivering a more sustainable, prosperous and healthier future for the people of Luton – a very important example of levelling up. I hope the Planning Inspectorate will not listen to the NIMBYs that will oppose the expansion but instead look at the economic benefits that the expansion will bring to Luton, the surrounding counties and the impact on the UK GDP. The expansion will deliver a projected 4,400 new jobs in Luton and 6,100 more in the three surrounding counties, plus economic growth of £ 1.5 billion per annum. During a cost of living crisis the silent majority needs to see something positive that would make a difference to their lives and benefit them. Therefore, please approve the airport expansion, anything else would be a travesty for Luton and surrounding areas. Kind regards Mr Ghulam Abbas