 Press Release - 26 June 2007 |
DIARY DATE AND PHOTOCALL NOTICE FOR SUNDAY 8 JULY 2007
PICNIC IN THE STOP STANSTED EXPANSION WOOD WITH TERRY WAITE CBE
Terry Waite CBE will be the guest of honour at a Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) picnic in Broxted on Sunday 8 July at the SSE Wood which he inaugurated three years ago in his capacity as Patron of the campaign group.
The wood at Broxted Hill (Broxted, near Great Dunmow, Essex CM6 2EP) was planted in 2004 by SSE members as a symbol of their determination that a second runway will never be built at Stansted. The saplings are already well established and have benefited from the regular care of a volunteer team including farmer Peter Smith on whose land the wood is planted.
The picnic takes place at between 3pm and 5pm. Entrance is free of charge and all are welcome. Tea and cakes will be available for purchase.
* * * Photographers and journalists are welcome to attend the picnic and should note that there will be speeches at 4pm. Interviews with Terry Waite can be arranged on the day for media attending – contact Carol Barbone on 0777 552 3091 * * *
According to the latest proposals for a second runway announced by BAA last January, 73 homes in the parishes of Broxted and Takeley would be bulldozed, including 18 Grade II listed buildings. However, dozens more would become virtually uninhabitable because of their proximity to an expanded airport with a second runway. Thousands of people in the immediate area and across the region would also suffer from the broader impacts of expansion, while carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the airport’s operations would leap from the current 5 million tonnes per year to 12 million tonnes.
In terms of land grab, BAA’s second runway proposals would mean that:
* Almost 5 km2 of land would be needed for an enlarged airport with a 2.2 km runway, 42 aircraft stands, new passenger terminal, car parking, control tower and associated on-site development.
* 4 country wildlife sites, 5.2 km of rivers, 5.7 km of public rights of way and 6.8 km of local roads would be affected.
* 2.1 km2 of woodland would disappear while 3.9 km2 of areas of special landscape value and 4.7 km2 of high quality landscape area would be lost.
Massive opposition by SSE and elected representatives across the region has already pushed back proposals for a second runway by four years beyond the Government’s original target date for completion of 2011/12. A planning application is not now expected until November 2007, while even the Government acknowledges that 2015 is the earliest date by which a second runway at Stansted could be ready – in the unlikely event that it was granted planning permission.
Meanwhile, the outcome of the Public Inquiry which runs until October into BAA’s plans for unlimited passenger use of the airport’s single runway and an increase in the number of permitted aircraft movements is not likely to be known until spring 2008, by which time a Public Inquiry into the second runway application is expected to have started.
Further information on the picnic in the SSE Wood is available at Coming Events or from the SSE Campaign Office on 01279 870558 or info@stopstanstedexpansion.com
ENDS
FURTHER INFORMATION
Carol Barbone, SSE Campaign Director, M 0777 552 3091 and cbarbone@mxc.co.uk
Media Centre
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