DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting held on Monday 6 March 2006

at 7.30pm in the Parish Office

 

Present: Cllrs

S Berlyn (Chairman)
A Allen

A Keeler

D Powell

 

M Telling

J Thomson

M Wood

In attendance: Mrs E Blyth, Assistant Clerk

 

Public Question Time – No members of the public were present.

 

127 Apologies for absence

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllrs J Brooks, G Gardiner, D Hawkins, C Lambert and D Whiteing.

 

128 Declarations of Interest

Members were reminded that they must declare any personal or prejudicial personal interests in any items of business on the meeting’s agenda.  No declarations were made.

 

129 Minutes

The Minutes of Parish Council meeting held on 25th January 2006 were approved and signed as a correct record.

 

130 BAA Consultation on location of additional runway at Stansted

The Chairman explained that the purpose of the meeting was to decide whether to respond to the BAA consultation on the additional runway and, if so, what response to make.  The consultation period would close on 24th March 2006, hence the need for an Extraordinary meeting.

Council was reminded that the Chairman of the Stop Stansted Expansion Campaign (SSEC) had attended and given a presentation at its last meeting.  This had been at the Council’s request.  BAA had been invited to send a speaker to the present meeting but had declined.

The issues were discussed and a number of serious concerns were raised about the environmental impact of the additional runway, wherever located.  In addition to the destruction of countryside required for the runway itself, the increased capacity of the airport would add to the pressure on roads, public transport, and other infrastructure.  Members recognised that the expansion of the airport would bring additional employment opportunities to the area.  This benefit had to be set against the adverse environmental consequences.  After the discussion Mr Wood made a proposal that the Council support the SSE Campaign and respond accordingly to the BAA consultation.

RESOLVED: by a majority vote,

a) that a letter of support be sent to the Stop Stansted Expansion Campaign;

b) that a letter be sent to BAA objecting on environmental grounds to any expansion of the airport.

 

Business having been concluded, the Chairman closed the meeting at 7.50pm.