Stop Stansted Expansion
Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) is a pressure group established in 2002. It was originally a working group of the North West Essex and East Herts Preservation Association, in response to the Government's consultation on expanding UK airports and, particularly, expansion plans for Stansted Airport defined in 2001. It has around 7,500 members and registered online supporters and its campaign director is Carol Barbone.
 | |
| Founded | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Key people | Carol Barbone, Peter Sanders |
| Area served | UK |
| Focus | Anti-airport expansion |
| Method | Campaign Group |
| Members | 7,500 |
| Website | www.stopstanstedexpansion.com |
Aims
The group's objective is to "restrict the development of Stansted Airport within tight limits that are truly sustainable and, in this way, to protect the quality of life of its supporters over wide areas of Essex, Hertfordshire and Suffolk, to preserve local heritage and to protect the natural environment."
The organisation has already delayed the time-frame for second runway plans for Stansted by four years (from 2011 to 2015).[1]
If the plans went ahead, there would be climate change effects. The predicted annual equivalent carbon dioxide emissions ( they are around 5 million tonnes a year at present) are 12 million tonnes annually with full use of the existing runway and up to 23 million tonnes a year with a second runway.
Government response
On the 9th October 2008, the UK Government approved an increase in Stansted's permitted passenger throughput from 25 million passengers per annum (mppa) to 35mppa using the existing runway following a Public Enquiry.[2] Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) has described this decision as "entirely predictable, cynical and unjustified".[3] After this announcement, on 14 November, Stop Stansted Expansion lodged an Appeal with the High Court.[4]
A key part of the campaign against the second runway is to stimulate letters of objection to the application. Uttlesford District Council has received over nine thousand representations to date with many more expected to follow.[5]
Figures
Passenger traffic at Stansted is falling sharply. The airport handled 6% fewer passenger in 2008 than in the previous year (22.3m passengers last year compared to 23.8m passengers in 2007). SSE therefore says that "increasing passenger numbers from 25mppa to 35mppa will not make any difference in the short term. Indeed, with the recent dramatic deterioration in the economic situation – both domestically and internationally – the UK is entering uncharted territory with regard to the future demand for air travel."
Public Inquiry
BAA's Plans to get through the Public Inquiry as fast as possible for their application for a second Stansted runway (in six months) have been condemned by Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE).[6] It began 15 April 2009.
The news that the Inspector appointed by the Government is looking to conduct the Inquiry at a breakneck pace was revealed in a note from the Planning Inspectorate issued ahead of the Pre Inquiry Meeting held on 10 November 2008, when the Inquiry programme and procedures were discussed at a public session. A further programming meeting is to be held on 19 January 2009.
"Running parallel sessions examining different subjects in different Inquiry rooms at the same time would severely compromise the community's ability to participate fully in the Inquiry" SSE says. "It would be impossible to conduct a fair and proper examination of BAA's plans by effectively excluding community representation by SSE and parish councils who are planning to play a leading role, said Carol Barbone, campaign director." [6]
Organisations which support Stop Stansted Expansion
- Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)
- The Woodland Trust
- Friends of the Earth
- Greenpeace
- Aviation Environment Federation
- HACAN Clear Skies Heathrow
- Enough’senough
- Plane Stupid
- Ramblers' Association
- We Can
- World Development Movement
Stop Stansted Expansion Media
Where Stansted Airport is now, in about 1935
A Martin B-26 Marauder of the 344th Bomb Group at Stansted, 1944
Avro York of the based Air Charter Ltd taking off on a trooping flight in 1955 with wartime hangars in the background
The terminal building at night
The arrivals hall in the terminal building was extended in 2008.
View of Stansted from the air
The Radisson Blu hotel, which is just a short walk from the Terminal building
The Terminal Building with the adjacent Control Tower
The transit system which links the main terminal building to satellite buildings 1 (gates 1 – 19) and 2 (gates 20 – 39)
A Class 745 train operating the Stansted Express at London Liverpool Street
References
- ↑ "Second Runway time frame delay". Stop Stansted Expansion. Archived from the original on 2009-07-21.
- ↑ "Airport growth plans approved". Citizen-Series. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
- ↑ "Airport growth plans approved response". Airportwatch. Retrieved 9 October 2008.[dead link]
- ↑ "SSE lodge appeal against government". Airportwatch. Retrieved 14 November 2008.[dead link]
- ↑ "The council has received over 9000 letters". Stop Stansted Expansion. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Governments plans". Airportwatch. Retrieved 1 November 2008.[dead link]
Other websites
- Stop Stansted Expansion Website
- "Stop Contraction & Convergence: UK carbon emissions and the implications for UK air traffic". Archived from the original on 2008-02-15. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
- "Stop Stansted Expansion, supporting groups". Archived from the original on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
- "Uttlesford Council". Retrieved 2008-07-21.
- "Civil Aviation Authority". Retrieved 2008-07-21.