Press Release - 24 December 2007

When Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) was established in 2002, many believed it was fighting a lost cause in opposing plans to make Stansted twice the size of Heathrow, especially since BAA had the Government's full support. Year by year, however, it has become increasingly clear that determined opposition from local residents and external events can change the 'inevitable' into the 'implausible'.

BAA undoubtedly had an 'annus horribilis' in 2006 with its takeover by Spanish-owned Ferrovial, the threat of a reference to the Competition Commission, a summer of disruption at Heathrow and the departure of half its senior management team. There was also the local setback when Uttlesford District Council refused BAA's plans for unlimited use of the existing Stansted runway resulting in a Public Inquiry and yet another postponement of its planning application for a second Stansted runway.

Indeed, a year ago it was difficult to imagine that 2007 could be any worse for BAA and yet it has been. The problems at its airports have continued, resulting in condemnation from customers, the media and politicians alike. The Competition Commission is now actively considering a break-up of the company and, not surprisingly, the senior management exodus has continued.

On the financial front, BAA is struggling to find a way of coping with a £12bn debt mountain whilst at the same time finding the cash to fund its £1bn a year investment programme. BAA failed in its attempts to re-finance its borrowings during 2007 and now faces an even more difficult financial climate in 2008.

Today, BAA has still not submitted its planning application for a second runway at Stansted, more than four years after it was given Government policy support in the Air Transport White Paper. The planning application is expected soon but will be submitted on a speculative basis – a case of BAA keeping its options open and seeking to increase the value of Stansted Airport in the event that it has to be put up for sale. While BAA is insisting to the local community and the media that it is committed to a second Stansted runway, it is giving a very different message to its bankers and to the CAA. BAA has told its lenders that its investment plans represent "an option to build, not a commitment" and it has told the CAA that a second Stansted runway would not be financially viable.

Commenting on the way forward, SSE Campaign Director Carol Barbone said: "Amidst this turmoil and confusion at BAA, SSE remains as clear, consistent and committed today as on the day of its inception in 2002. Our objective is to contain the development of Stansted Airport within tight limits that are truly sustainable. Our key arguments are that unsustainable expansion would create unacceptable environmental consequences – locally and globally – and that far from there being economic benefits, further expansion of Stansted would have detrimental economic effects, locally, regionally and nationally."

"Despite BAA's current difficulties," she continued, "there will be no let-up in our campaign in 2008. Indeed there will be no let-up until such time as this community can go back to living life in peace in the certain knowledge that Stansted will not become another Heathrow."

ENDS

The Review of the Year summarising Stop Stansted Expansion's activities in 2007 appears below.

STOP STANSTED EXPANSION – 2007 HIGHLIGHTS

JANUARY
* SSE commissions expert witnesses for Public Inquiry battle into proposals for expansion on Stansted's single runway
* BAA announces second runway proposals, claiming them to be 'greener and cheaper'
* Preparation for biennial SSE Community Conference

FEBRUARY
* SSE Community Conference held for 200 opinion formers, themed 'Think Global Act Local'
* SSE responds to CAA Airports Price Control Review
* SSE presses Chancellor to address Air Passenger Duty loopholes for business travellers
* BAA announces surface access proposals for an expanded Stansted but concentrates on road development rather than rail despite Government policy emphasis on public transport
* SSE responds to Government's proposed changes to Draft East of England Plan
* SSE Public Inquiry preparations continue

MARCH
* SSE takes part in the Pre-Inquiry Meeting for the Public Inquiry
* Henham Jumble Sale and Broxted Quiz raise £2600 for SSE Public Inquiry Appeal Fund
* Draft Climate Change Bill published but ignores aviation's contribution
* Invoice for £145m delivered to BAA to highlight the real environmental cost of its climate change contribution at Stansted for the first quarter of 2007
* SSE meets Conservative and Liberal Democrat Environment and Transport spokesmen in Stansted who confirm their parties' opposition to a second Stansted runway
* SSE attends Conservative Party Spring Forum to speak about emerging aviation policy
* BAA attempts to limit Public Inquiry scope with temporary cap of 'about 35mppa'

APRIL
* SSE successfully presses Inspector to include the climate change impacts of aviation in the Public Inquiry's terms of reference
* Barn Dance, Posh Frocks Sale and Duton Hill Quiz raise £2400 for Public Inquiry Appeal Fund
* SSE Response Team finalises proofs of evidence for submission to Public Inquiry
* 42nd AGM held by SSE parent body, North West Essex & East Herts Preservation Association
* SSE responds to DfT consultation on proposed de-designation of Stansted Airport – opposing the proposed removal of price caps on grounds of prematurity

MAY
* Public Inquiry starts, drawing substantial media coverage of SSE’s position including plea for action to curb the growth in air travel as cover story of the Independent newspaper
* Counsel's opinion sought on validity of Highways Agency/BAA M11 consultation leading to an exchange of letters with the Secretary of State for Transport and BAA
* SSE submission made to Competition Commission towards the investigation into BAA monopoly
* Duton Hill Funday raises £700 for Inquiry Appeal Fund

JUNE
* SSE responds formally to Highways Agency/BAA M11 consultation, highlighting flaws
* Flitch Way cycle rides held for SSE attract over 200 participants
* Uttlesford DC and BAA give evidence at Public Inquiry, well-attended by SSE supporters
* SSE cross-examines BAA witnesses at Public Inquiry, exposing numerous inconsistencies in evidence

JULY
* SSE Patron Terry Waite CBE visits Broxted for the Picnic in the SSE Wood
* SSE responds to BAA Rail Consultation
* Gaston House auction raises £33,000 for Public Inquiry Appeal Fund, meeting £120,000 target
* Aqqaluk Lynge, President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, gives evidence against expansion at Public Inquiry and presents to Parliamentarians in the House of Commons
* 16 members of the SSE Response Team and external experts give Public Inquiry evidence
* SSE Christmas Cards for 2007 go on sale

AUGUST
* Investigative journalist Andrew Gilligan exposes fake pro-expansion letters to local papers
* 2000 job cuts across BAA reported by national press as company 'streamlines' operations
* SSE submits formal response to Government's Planning White Paper consultation
* Competition Commission confirms intention to consider break up of BAA monopoly
* SSE's Polar Bears Picnic at the Gardens of Easton Lodge highlights climate change threat
* SSE delegation makes presentation at Heathrow Climate Camp for community solidarity

SEPTEMBER
* Public Inquiry resumes with individual, association and parish representations, including community sessions in Sudbury and Ware
* Road and rail issues examined by major parties, including SSE, at the Public Inquiry
* Will Self leads 6th annual SSE Runway Ramble in National Trust owned Hatfield Forest – the 75th major public event to be organised by SSE since 2002
* SSE campaign boards exhort 'Support the British Economy – Stop Stansted Expansion' to reinforce economic arguments against Stansted proposals
* BAA appoints new chairman to try to reverse reputation problems and key staff departures
* Pro-expansion lobby group launched by aviation industry to 'redress the publicity balance'
* Sir Alan Haselhurst MP gives evidence against expansion to the Public Inquiry, picketed by airport workers paid by BAA to attend as revealed by The Times
* 2008 Community Calendar launched

OCTOBER
* SSE website achieves 2.8 million hits by 77,000 unique visitors in the previous 12 months
* Public Inquiry ends with Closing Submissions – decision due Spring 2008
* SSE responds to DfT Airport De-designation consultation
* Little Easton Sunday Lunch with Lord Hanningfield raises almost £1400 for the campaign

NOVEMBER
* SSE responds to Highway Agency M11 consultation (reissued in the wake of representations by SSE) and DfT's Emissions Cost Assessment consultation
* SSE submission made to Transport Committee Inquiry into the Future of BAA
* SSE launches Second Runway Fighting Fund Appeal to Members
* Stansted Quiz raises £1200 for Fighting Fund Appeal
* Heathrow consultation launched into "mixed mode" and third runway as Secretary of State lets slip (and then retracts) view that securing even one extra runway in the South East is ambitious
* Office of National Statistics announce record hole in UK trade balance from rapid growth in cheap leisure flights at £19bn net deficit for 2006

DECEMBER
* SSE members join Campaign Against Climate Change March in London
* Community Calendars and Christmas Cards sold by 80 volunteers and shops raise £33,000
* SSE makes formal comment on Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government's proposed changes to the East of England Plan
* Stansted passenger numbers show substantial slowdown in growth to just a 1% increase over the past year compared with annual growth of 15%-20% experienced in previous years
* BAA delays submission of second Stansted runway application yet again while telling investors that the application is 'an option' not 'a commitment' to build, further blighting the community
* SSE highlights the financial pressures on BAA arising from the debt mountain taken on to fund Ferrovial's acquisition and the failure to refinance in an increasingly difficult banking climate
* Uttlesford District Councillors renew their pledge of opposition to further runways at Stansted
* Inspector Boyland due to submit single runway Public Inquiry report in confidence to Government for a decision and announcement in 2008

FURTHER INFORMATION
Carol Barbone, Campaign Director, SSE: M 0777 552 3091, cbarbone@mxc.co.uk