Representation by Margaret Rose White
- Date submitted
- 22 June 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Luton was recently voted the worst place to live in England 2023. Now Luton Borough Council (LBC) want to inflict more misery on residents by proposing a major expansion of London Luton Airport (LLA). It being their intention to almost double passenger capacity from 18 million per annum to 32 million per annum. LBC who are already in serious financial difficulty, following their financing of the over budget £281 million Luton Dart project, have already scaled down LLA expansion plan by £1bn. it would appear, that they seriously need to generate more income from LLA at whatever cost, to justify the Luton Dart, which has had no direct benefit for Luton residents. At best public services are mediocre coupled with poor quality air and airport noise. If LLA expansion goes ahead it will be a blight on East Luton. Not only will air pollution direct from LLA (currently conservatively estimated at 2.2 milion tonnes per annum) be almost doubled, there will be heavier traffic on the roads, with up to nine new sets of traffic lights. The award winning Wigmore Valley Park (considered to be one of the best parks in the Eastern Region) will be bulldozed, with the loss of all existing flora, fauna and over 100 trees. LBC have submitted a proposal for a new park on sterile farmland, to be accessed by only one small green corridor, surrounded by warehousing and airport parking. This is no substitute for what will be lost. LLA have promised that homes affected by increased noise will provided state of the art sound-proofing. Not much good, when one wants to spend an afternoon in the garden, to endure excessive noise and polluted air. LLA have also pledged that they will buy any residential properties that cannot be sold due to expansion works. But, at what market value (m/v), the m/v before expansion started? These are all additional costs, which will be borne ultimately by Luton Council taxpayers. And what for? A bit more income from LLA to save face for LBC following their overspend on the Luton Dart vanity project. LLA have stated the they are trying to put in a regulatory structure to ensure managed green growth. Yet historically, they have consistently exceeded noise emissions and allowed airlines to introduce bigger noisier planes. They also failed to comply with their 2014 planning consent, which had adverse implications for communities. If LLA expansion goes ahead it will not only impact Luton, it will also affect the Hertfordhire County Council 2030 Clean Air Plan. Finally, due to climate emergency, the UN have urged that no airport shall be allowed to expand.