2.2 London Southend Airport

STRONGLY OBJECT TO ALL EXPANSION. Do minimum or preferably no expansion.The increase in aircraft noise for us residents will become intolerable, emissions will increase. The road system cannot cope with current traffic levels. If 2m passenger movements are reached this will require about 4000 extra car journeys per day!!! Imagine the road upgrading work for the next few years that would be required. This area has a high percentage of elderly people who hardly fly. Who will the expansion benefit, people flying from outside the region and the business people and major shareholders who will make millions of pounds.

I believe a new hotel can only be good for the area but I am not sure a new rail station is necessary when the one a Rochford is only a mile away. This would only slow down the train service which would need to make a additional stop. As for the flying clubs I would not be sorry to see them go as they just produce noise pollution and have a bad reputation for crashing.

Please note the passenger throughput is nearer 50,000 per annum.
Historically it has been a lot busier in the past. The airport in the 1960's had around 600 to 700,000 passengers per year, and the airport was used and valued as a major provider of employment and economic driver for the locality.

It would be interesting to see a proper case made out for the real economic benefits to the area, rather than general, pie-in-the sky ones. 3,000 jobs may be created (not necessarily a significant percentage filled by local people) but at what cost to the area and environment? Wouldn't a regional airport deter visitors to Southend, rather than attract them? Who visits Stansted for the weekend?

Perhaps there are less expensive, more beneficial ways of regenerating Southend. The railway extension sounds like a very expensive mistake when funds are needed badly elsewhere in the area.

I am broadly in favour of development of the airport environs but this must be managed sensitively.

Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan consultation (JAAP)

Response from Hilary Davison

2.1 Are the assets of the JAAP area fully reported and understood?
No. Rochford Hundred Golf Course And Rochford Tennis Club are not recorded

2.2 Are there any important assets missing from the assessment?
No

3.1 Do you agree with the overall vision for the JAAP?
Yes

3.2 Do the objectives set out cover the key requirements from the area?
Yes But with following amendments
b) Insert local regional after thriving
c) add to end are in place before any expansion of the airport and other areas of the JAAP.
d) remove whether; change or for and

3.3 Are there any other objectives that might help to guide the selection of the preferred option/options and JAAP?
Major public and private transport infrastructure improvements
To protect & enhance biodiversity issues within the area covered and those outside that may be affected by the JAAP area

4.1 What do you see as the role of London Southend Airport in the future?
1. Provide air transport and aviation related industries
2. To secure regeneration to enable it to reach its potential to function as a local regional airport (SBC Core Strategy, Objective SO11)
More on Newquay model expending to Norwich model with required infrastructure. Catering for the niche UK market bringing more passengers in and out and increasing the tourist market.Destinations to N & Central Europe. Thereafter look to northern and central continent, CI and Ireland targeting 'short break market'
3. Act as a driver for the economy

4.2 How can the airport best be developed to drive and support the local economy?
Airport expansion along with economic/business improvements work best as a package. It should be consequential to, and not specifically be the driver.

4.3 What role should the JAAP play in supporting wider employment growth in the sub-region?
JAAP to act as facilitator for both authorities to work together for the regeneration of the area

4.4 Is the area suitable for significant growth in employment?
Yes - But must consider whether growth in employment will create added vehicle movements & therefore an increase in air pollution & road congestion.
Major trunk road improvements vital

4.5 Will the area be attractive to investors?
Yes, if high or medium airport growth options are chosen; if leisure acvtivities are included and better tranportation is in place.

4.6 Are there additional options to consider?
Yes probable detrimental effect of relocation of existing businesses from other business parks in the vicinity causing displacement of labour and run down of other sites e.g. Progress Road, Purdeys Way and Sutton Road

4.7 Should the Green Belt be considered for revision? If so, how should it be revised?
Only the green belt within the airport perimeter should be revised and then only in accordance with airport expansion and safety issues The Area ii(a) should be considered for use for permitted expansion of Aviation Way Business Park (i.e.10acres[4.05h) only) within Green Belt Area as is the Old Brickworks
OR that only those areas be taken out of Green Belt designation

4.8 What enhancements to the environment and amenity of the area should be made? What are the priority areas?
General recreational enhancements for all the population, such as a Nature Park. To be funded out of Developers Contributions and Country Park be extended to take in all Green Belt land between Southend & Rochford
(2) Extra care and vigilance to prevent industrial waste polluting Eastwood Brook. This has been a problem in the past and probably will after expansion of industrial area

4.9 What do you see as the greatest potential impact of development in the JAAP and how can it be mitigated?
Carbon and aviation fuel emissions and noise pollution - Create a 20 year airport expansion plan with improved transportation included.
Have proper consultations with fixed based operators
Mitigation by restricting the types of aircraft used and restricting night flying

4.10 What do you consider to be the transport priorities for the JAAP?
Firstly, identify the cachment area targeted for airport passengers and the other component parts of the JAAP area and consider the new and improved roads required.
There is no conceivable answer to road improvements for the maximum number of passenger numbers considered in the JAAP
Road linkage to central Southend and to the west to be put in place before airport developments take place
As the number of passengers increases then consideration given to extra trains specifically for Southend Airport to and from London.

4.11 How can a shift from car use to other modes of transport be achieved?
Implementation of a travel plan for airport staff and businesses on the airport Park and Rde schemes with shuttle buses to/from the airport
Expensive parking fees at the airport and surrounding roads (with residents' permits)
Much improved local bus services to/from all local areas.

4.12 Do you agree with the proposed areas for change?
No

4.13 Are there any areas that should be added or removed? Why?
Remove
(ii) Agricultural land north of Aviation Way Business Park except :i (old brickworks)
ii(a) (10acres actually on the north side of Aviation Way itself, for limited development only)
iic (buffer zone)
(v) Agricultural land south of airport boundary, currently cricket pitch, agricultural land and private allotments, unless reserved for recreational purposes

5.1 Which is your preferred scenario for the future of the Southend Airport area
Replace with Medium Growth 2b Aviation Cluster

5.2 How could your preferred scenario be further enhanced?
By not revising any Green Belt except what lies within the airport boundary and i + iia + iic
A better mix of leisure inc. theme parks, office and light engineering

5.3 Are there any other scenarios which you feel have not been considered? Expansion of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul operations within area (iii) Land at end of Aviation Way
2. Accept that the prevailing road and rail infrastructure is inadequate and cannot easily be enhanced to accommodate an international airport.
Look at a regional airport on the lines of Newquay initially and engage with fixed based operators to plot the way forward with an agreed plan over say 20 years
Ensure that the plan covers both inward and outward passengers to support local needs in air travel requirements and as part of the promotion of Southend and its locality for the tourist industry

The third paragraph gives 2006 data which can now be updated to 2007, when there were 40,000 aircraft movements and 49,000 passengers.

There could be a reference to the Airport Master Plan and its status as a non statutory document prepared in accordance with Government guidance following the White Paper which is to be taken account of in LDF processes.

Figure 2.2 is similar to the Airport Master Plan Block Land Use Plan, but there are a few differences. As with Figure 2.1, the airport boundary does not include the 4 acre and 10 acre fields, although it does include the RESA/ILS area and the land east of the railway. All of these areas are designated for airport use in the Master Plan. The Key should show that the yellow area is RESA and ILS and should be designated in the pink colour the same as the runway. It is not clear what the 'bund' is in the key. Finally, the southern MRO area should extend into the whole of the white area to its north, and should not be titled terminal and apron, the latter being to the east in the blue area The Block Land Use Plan from the Airport Master Plan will be submitted separately.

Of the options offered in the London Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan,
I prefer Scenario 1 - the "Low Growth (do minimum)" option.

It is entirely inappropriate for Southend Airport to model itself on the airport in
Southampton. Southampton is served by motorways from the north, west and east and the
airport is adjacent to one of these. Southend already has congestion problems and
certainly does not have the road infrastructure to cope with the 1 million passengers a year
going to and from the airport that Southend Airport would like to see by 2012, never mind
the 2 million they want by 2030.

Arable land, Green Belt (wherever it is), orchards and allotment land should never be used.

Read One Planet Agriculture on the Soil Association website:

http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/a71fa2b6e2b6d3e980256a6c004542b4/3a14c6a22bf6d8238025728f0037c6d4!OpenDocument

I am writing in connection with the JAAP document. It is difficult to form any proper conclusion because its figures given for aircraft movement and passenger numbers do not seem to add up. On page 12 it is stated that current traffic is estimated at 39000 aircraft and passenger movement at 30000 per annum. On page 56 it states current passenger levels are estimated at 46000. Current is defined as (2006). Is current on page 12 also referring to (2006)? If the figures relate to the same period then they do not make sense. It says on page 56 that the figure of 46000 has grown from 3650 in 2004. Surely this is nonsense. I assume that the word from should be by. It also says aircraft movement were 48697 in 2004. How does this figure relate to the figure of 39000 on page 12.

I think you will agree that the figures need an explanation if anyone is expected to make any sensible comment on the figures? On page 69 it states that passenger growth is envisaged up to 1 million per annum by 2012. This is only 4 years and if the figure of 46000 is taken on page 56 it would mean an increase of 954000. This seems nonsense to me. As I see it this would mean an increase of over 560000 passenger per annum. The figures seem to be to be hopelessly inaccurate and as I have said before how can anyone be expected to comment in a sensible way. Could I please have your comments on the above by return because if I am to comment I need the information quickly because as you know the deadline for comment is the 8th of August.

The statement that expansion of aviation at Southend will contribute to economic growth is shortsighted.
The recent dramatic oil price rise has caused airline operators to reduce the number of scheduled flights. Recent studies of "Peak Oil" have shown that global oil production has either peaked or will do so shortly. This will dramatically alter the economy of the aviation industry, the price reducing demand.
The econmic case for expansion outlined here is therefore flawed. Operators should not be encouraged to expand their activities at a time when price is likely to suppress demand.

There are many local people who do not see the airport as the 'Golden Goose' that is often portrayed - except of course those who have a commercial interest in it. If one holds a vested interest in any venture, then you are likely to act in your own self-interest, it would be very odd if one did not! The airport is not the be all & end all of employment issues in Southend & Rochford - i believe that it is a false premise.