12th April 2005

Public Inquiry into Enforcement Notice Appeal
The public inquiry started at Leamington Town Hall on 2 February and took to 23 March for the airport to complete their 20 separate Witnesses, covering air quality, noise, transport, permitted development, planning issues etc.

Warwick District Council has started to present its case but the Inquiry will now adjourn from 13 April to 3 May.

Representatives of 'The Community Group' have been present every day, and along with Warwick District Council, we have cross examined most of the airports witnesses. Also appearing against the airport have been Rugby Borough Council, Council for the Protection of Rural England, Highways Agency, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and a surprise appearance by West Midlands Joint Councils (led by Birmingham City Council)

The Community Group will be presenting it Case in May, with residents of Baginton, Stoneleigh, Leek Wooton, Willenhall, and myself from Bubbenhall all due to appear.

It seems at present quite likely that the current operation of the airport may be granted retrospective planning permission, but subject to restrictions. So, running in parallel to the Inquiry in the back rooms, discussions on a possible 'section 106' agreement have been taking place. Some significant concessions have been won already from the airport should their appeal be successful. There would be a night time noise quota put into place, air quality monitoring, cap on passenger numbers (likely to be 0.98 million/year), and various restrictions on flight times demanded by Highways Agency.

Further Planning applications
The permanent terminal planning application that was rejected by WDC last September is now fixed to go to Public Inquiry staring January 2006.
A further planning application submitted b the airport for a terminal 3.5 times the size and with 5 times the car parking is still with Warwick District Council, currently not determined. Both these applications are claimed to be able to handle 2 million passengers/year (though why one has to be so much larger than the other remains a mystery). It is quite likely this will be appealed by the airport and be rolled into next January's Inquiry.

Consultative Committee
There was a visit/tour of the airport arranged for the last Airport Consultative Committee. This was interesting to see the operation from the 'inside', particularly the passenger operation - which certainly is basic and cramped.

They are starting to want to be seen as more open, are beginning to give us information, such as data on numbers and numbers of flights and passengers. On the first anniversary of the Thomson fly operation, 640,000 passengers approx have used the airport. They are also starting to be a little more receptive to criticism. There are promises that a proper complaints handling system may be set up, but its not there yet.

The next consultative meeting is in early July, so I would welcome any comments / complaints / suggestions or feedback.

This site is supported by the Bubbenhall Parish Council.
If you wish to contact us please do so to the Parish Clerk -

Mrs Dawn Eady, 24 Coopers Walk, Bubbenhall CV8 3JB, 02476 303957
bubbenhallparishclerk@talktalk.net