Stansted legal challenge slapped down

Friday, 13 March 2009 12:00 AM

By politics.co.uk staff

The high court has rejected a legal challenge to expansion at Stansted airport.

Campaigners say the decision is even more significant than the government's move to build a third runway at Heathrow, because it sets a legal precedent.

The legal action challenged three aspects of the government's planning decision:

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• the increase in noise and damage to tranquillity from extra flights had to be ignored in order to carry out government policy to increase flying
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• extra flights could be approved without any consideration of the impact on climate change
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• the economic impact on the UK could be disregarded. This has a particular impact on rural areas as domestic tourism provides a financial lifeline.
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Ralph Smyth, the Campaign to Protect Rural England's (CPRE) senior transport campaigner said: "Today's decision flies a jumbo jet through commitments to reduce noise and greenhouse gas emissions.

"The government can't keep on relying on its outdated aviation policy which is damaging countryside, the climate and the economy."

Tags:
• airport expansion
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• aviation
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• public services
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• transport