Representation by Lawrence K Maxwell
- Date submitted
- 23 June 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Luton is the most air-polluted town of its size in the country. Yet Luton Council wants to increase passengers from last years 6.2 million up to 32 million per year. Previous expansions have not resulted in many extra jobs for local people ~ which leaves the horrendous health costs feeling even more of an insulting dystopian disaster for all of us in our very much loved town. Luton people may die 8 years earlier than in other parts of the country, an absolutely horrifying statistic. Air and traffic pollution are main culprits. I do not wish for a huge increase in the number of flights over my town, worsening the health of myself, my relatives, the town’s children, our children's children, and all future children. The climate crisis is a terrible reality threatening our existence and livable well being as human beings. I am among those people seriously worried constantly for the welfare of our future generations. It is insanity to even consider increasing flights over Luton when we know that this means death and worsening health, locally, nationally and internationally. I live on just one of the several literally constantly busy main routes linking the town , Stopsley , Wigmore and the airport. THE TRAFFIC , ITS NOISE AND POLLUTION, IS INCESSANT. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I understand from the plans that airport expansion will mean that traffic will increase significantly. I am devastated and traumatised by the thoughts and the shame of the negative impacts to persons’ life quality and length of life that further Luton Airport – and associated, linked – developments will cause my family and our fellow Lutonian families and friends – especially in this area of Luton. Additional bullet points : Eaton Green Link Road breaches the local plan that was adopted in 2017. Local residential roads will become the main access route to Terminal 2 from the East of England. Airport traffic will pass 3 schools (Queen Elizabeth, Wigmore and Someries) I have doubts that the unregulated former Council tip will be removed safely due to its close location to homes and previous history of the Dart construction. The plan includes installing 11 sets of traffic lights in Wigmore when there are none at the moment. The application includes increasing car parking spaces by over 50% convering increasingly crucial, necessary green field sites, and Wigmore Park, again linked to and encouraging more traffic. The Dart will have no impact on reducing road traffic from the East of England. One can already regularly smell burnt aviation fuel. We are in my home disturbed by traffic noise day and most of the night. Much of lovely Wigmore Park will be destroyed. All of its County Wildlife Site will be destroyed. The application doesn’t intend to replace Wigmore Park with a new park fully within Luton, so our town will (again) lose Luton Open Space to obstinately wilfull, poorly thought through development.