Policy T1 - Access to Development Areas

1. Environmental Controls Schedule

This Schedule shows that the daytime operation hours will be 06:30 to 23:00. This provides woefully inadequate protection to the local population. The loss of sleep is recognised as a serious threat to public health.

The Schedule also says there will be a limit of 120 ATMs per month during the nighttime period. This is callous and is vehemently rejected by this group and the local population at large. Our opinion poll survey showed that 81% of people vehemently objected to night flights. The Secretary of State should be provided with a map that shows the comparatively close proximity of housing to this airport and be invited to compare this to all other UK airports. In the light of this, the night flight regime is wholly inappropriate and unsound.

The Schedule notes that fewer than 50% of landings in daytime hours will be from the south west. In the light of the prevailing winds coming from the south west, we believe that this statement is incorrect and will not be adhered to. A log of all flights should be prepared and submitted annually to the Councils for release to the public.

The Schedule also makes reference to the Airport Consultative Committee. We have already outlined elsewhere in our responses that the ACC is not a representative body as its members have been selected by LSA and meetings are chaired by the airport director. Therefore, this body is not fit for purpose and a new body should be created or all such reports should go to the two local authorities.

2. Transport Issues

It is noted that traffic generated by JAAP development will be directed to the principle routes and discouraged from using local access roads. This is not enough. The JAAP should include more dynamic steps to protect residents in small local roads from fast and heavy traffic.

3. Introduction
It is noted that the Councils hope that new highway infrastructure will encourage use of sustainable low-carbon transport. This is unsound. It is vital that the JAAP acknowledges that increasing traffic does not improve sustainability and it does not reduce carbon emissions.
The suggestion that the Councils are seeking to achieve a modal shift away from the car is false. The reality is that by widening major roads and possibly building a new Rochford outer bypass (page 50), the Councils are in fact undermining this. New or widened roads will inevitably lead to an increase in traffic.

The points 1-3 above demonstrate that the thinking that underpins policy T1 is unsound.

As long as consideration is given to pedestrians/buses etc this has my support

In conjunction with LS5 and related to T2 and LS5. The previous consultation for the runway extension rode rough shod over objections to the proposed road layout and the discontinuance of Eastwoodbury Lane as a viable traffic corridor. It now funnels all traffic from the vast residence catchment North of the airfield, from the Eastwood Estate, egress from the busy A127 and the RBS building. The JAAP plans, conveniently quiet during the runway extension, now proposes a major traffic burden with this Saxon Business Park and suddenly this Area xi (Nestuda Business Park) is going to have another road onto the new roundabout created by this link road, increasing traffic levels to an already bad pinch point.

It is interesting to note the word 'consideration' at the start of this section. No consideration has been given to the populace affected by the increase in activity at the airport, so far. The daytime activity begins at 6.30, but there are no limits on planes taking off and landing before that time, as 120 flights a month are allowed at night. this is a far greater allowance than at other comparable airports, and the result is disturbed sleep for around 20 thousand houses, or maybe 60,000 people which lie near the airport or under the flight path itself.
There is a statement that fewer than 50% of landings will be from the south-west, but this statement I believe to be incorrect as the prevailing wind will be from the south-west, forcing aircraft to land from the north-east.
Diversions are, in effect, emergency flights, but will not be treated as emergencies under the plan.
The Airport Consultative Committee appears to be made up of people who agree with the expansion and the future plans, and presenting them with reports that will be nodded through is not satisfactory.
There are plans to improve the road structure by creating new roads. this will by its very nature increase the traffic and increase carbon emissions. It is almost impossible to cross Nestuda Way on foot at the current time, due to the volume of traffic, but he Southend Council have refused to put in pedestrian crossings.

Policy T1 refers to the junction of Aviation Way and Eastwoodbury Lane requiring enhancement, but the Proposals Map incorrectly shows the junction of Cherry Orchard Way and Eastwoodbury Lane

It is clear that the local infrastructure cannot cope with current traffic levels. Additional travel to the airport and planned business parks will simply bring the town to a standstill.

1. Environmental Controls Schedule

This Schedule shows that the daytime operation hours will be 06:30 to 23:00. This provides woefully inadequate protection to the local population. The loss of sleep is recognised as a serious threat to public health.

The Schedule also says there will be a limit of 120 ATMs per month during the nighttime period. This is callous and is vehemently rejected by this group and the local population at large. Our opinion poll survey showed that 79% of people vehemently objected to night flights. The Secretary of State should be provided with a map that shows the comparatively close proximity of housing to this airport and be invited to compare this to all other UK airports. In the light of this, the night flight regime is wholly inappropriate and unsound.

The Schedule notes that fewer than 50% of landings in daytime hours will be from the south west. In the light of the prevailing winds coming from the south west, we believe that this statement is incorrect and will not be adhered to. A log of all flights should be prepared and submitted annually to the Councils for release to the public.

The Schedule also makes reference to the Airport Consultative Committee. We have already outlined elsewhere in our responses that the ACC is not a representative body as its members have been selected by LSA and meetings are chaired by the airport director. Therefore, this body is not fit for purpose and a new body should be created or all such reports should go to the two local authorities.

2. Transport Issues

It is noted that traffic generated by JAAP development will be directed to the principle routes and discouraged from using local access roads. This is not enough. The JAAP should include more dynamic steps to protect residents in small local roads from fast and heavy traffic.

3. Introduction

It is noted that the Councils hope that new highway infrastructure will encourage use of sustainable low-carbon transport. This is unsound. It is vital that the JAAP acknowledges that increasing traffic does not improve sustainability and it does not reduce carbon emissions.
The suggestion that the Councils are seeking to achieve a modal shift away from the car is false. The reality is that by widening major roads and possibly building a new Rochford outer bypass (page 50), the Councils are in fact undermining this. New or widened roads will inevitably lead to an increase in traffic.

The points 1-3 above demonstrate that the thinking that underpins policy T1 is unsound.

No proper consideration of aforementioned requirements for the build in the first place

I SUPPORT THIS. I have nothing to add concerning this particular heading that I didn't say in the previous JAAP consultation, to leave as 'No Comments' gives the impression that the writer could be a 'Don't Know' and has not got a view either way. Those who do not comment must be assumed to be in favour; however, those who object will choose not interpret it as such. Who the heck compiled this document?

Please find attached a representation form and representations submitted on behalf of Essex County Council to the Draft Submission Document for the Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action plan, February 2013.