Wythenshawe Area Committee 'recommends for approval' World Logistics Hub

Objectors to the World Logistics Hub made representations to the Wythensahawe Area Committee last night.

Residents from Ringway Parish Council, Hale Barns, Cheadle, Chorlton and other parts of Manchester raised a number of concerns to the 12 City Councillors relating to loss of green space, the inflated job creation figures in the Airport's proposals, the lack of consultation in removing the specified area out of the green belt, the threat of rising emissions from the Airport, the likelihood of increased traffic in the area and other issues.

In the end, the Committee members 'recommended the application for approval', which will now be sent to the Planning and Highways Committee at Manchester City Council for a final decision (possibly on 22nd November 2012). The Committee attached a number of conditions to this recommendation relating to the accessibility of existing footpaths, noise and lighting issues relating to the proposed buildings.

The Councillors of the Committee said they sympathised with some of the objections but said that local people in Wythenshawe needed job opportunities. Councillor Brian O'Neill (Labour) acknowledged that the Airport had made similar promises to the people of Wythenshawe in the past - promises which had not materialised. This time, Councillor O'Neill insisted the Committee would be holding the Airport to account.

Councillor Mary Di Mauro (Lib Dem) raised another of concerns relating to the loss of biodiversity at the sight and questioned whether a more appropriate brownfield site could have been found on the Roundthorn Estate to the north of the Airport.

Referring to the online petition against the plans, Councillor Eddie Newman said that many of the objectors did not live in Manchester and were, "ideologically opposed to airport expansion."

Residents and campaigners will be making representations to the Planning and Highways Committee meeting in due course, but in the mean time will continue with plans for a Wildlife Walk on Saturday 3rd November 2012.  

Residents begin fightback against World Logistics Hub

Click here to sign the petition against the World Logistics Hub

On Wednesday 5^th September Ringway Parish Council members were joined by members of the A556 Lobby Group, campaigners from SEMA and over 80 local residents to voice their opposition to the recent planning application submitted by Manchester Airports Group (MAG) which, if successful "would see 90 acres of former greenbelt land wiped out in favour of 43 cargo warehouses and almost 1,500 car parking spaces".

For many residents in attendance, who felt that they had not been involved in the consultation process, the meeting was their first opportunity to learn about the Airport’s plans. It was also an opportunity to debunk the Airport’s claim that the expansion would create employment in the area.

Audrey O'Donovan, Chairman of Ringway Parish Council said:
 "The Airport claim new jobs will be created. However, many of these jobs will not be 'new' but simply 'displaced' as existing firms re-locate from other areas of Greater Manchester to take advantage of the cheap business rates on offer."

Members of the A556 Lobby Group explained that the recent planning application has shed light on how the Airport’s plans fit in to a broader picture of development in the area.

Matt Parkinson, who attended the meeting, said "We have long suspected that the proposed A556 bypass has more to do with facilitating Government plans for the massive expansion of Manchester Airport, than to provide an "environmental improvement" to the people living alongside the current A556.

"We expressed our concerns that the developments around Manchester Airport are being brought to the public's attention piecemeal, these will affect a much wider surrounding area ultimately engulfing significant parts of Cheshire into the planned "Airport City" and supporting infrastructure”.

The meeting was an opportunity for different groups to come together in their opposition, and there was a strong feeling that the struggles of local residents and campaigners must be united.

"We feel the time has come for all local groups fighting to save their villages, countryside and way of life to join together, to realise the bigger picture and to oppose the notion of 'growth' at any cost. We believe the vast majority of people would prefer to see targeted investment in sustainability in order to create jobs which genuinely benefit society, human well-being and our environment rather than local MP, George Osborne's obsession with growth for growths sake."

There was even a message of solidarity from across the channel, from campaigners at the ZAD, (Zone A Defendre, meaning ‘Zone to Defend’), near Nantes in France, who have been opposing a massive airport project for over 40 years:

"We want to send a message of solidarity to those standing up to airport expansion in Manchester and let you know that there are many communities worldwide involved in the same struggle. Together, we can learn from each others experiences and be part of a movement  fighting not just against useless and destructive projects but for a world where we're not ruled by profit and where communties are able to take control of their lives".

Click here to sign the petition against the World Logistics Hub

Manchester Airport unveils plans to concrete former greenbelt land with 'World Logistics Hub'

Manchester Airport has announced plans to concrete over former greenbelt land around Sunbank Lane to make way for a 'World Logistics Hub'.  The area is currently home to residential houses and greenfields and also borders onto Cotterill Clough - a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Proposals to build on former greenbelt land

The plans involve the construction of around 43 warehouses and office units of various sizes on land adjacent to the A538, as well as 1,473 carparking spaces, 134 bike parking spaces and a re-landscaped green zone.   The plans form part of the wider Airport City Enterprise Zone.  More details can be found here: http://www.airportcity.co.uk/master-plan/world-logistics-hub/#

The Airport 'anticipate' that 1800 jobs will be created over a 15 year period.  However, a report on the wider Airport City proposals in Autumn 2011 by the Campaign to Protect Rural England found that many of these job creation projections actually involved displacing pre-existing jobs from elsewhere in Manchester, as firms relocate to take advantage of the cheap business rates on offer.

The land around Sunbank Lane was recently taken out of the Greenbelt in Manchester City Council's 'Core Strategy' which was approved in July 2012.  Many residents say they were not informed or consulted of these plans.  Audrey O'Donovan said,  "As a resident and chairman of Ringway Parish Council I am appalled at the lack of consultation by Manchester Airport when removing Oak Farm and surrounding area out of the green belt and changing the planning status enabling them to once again encroach on our countryside. All in the name of so called progress. What concerns me is the World Logistics Hub as they have called this latest expansion will expand to the other side of the A538 spreading their operations still further into our very small Parish of Ringway."

Plans for a World Logistics Hub to the south west of Manchester Airport

The Airport have published an 'informal' consultation document with images of the plans.   They say they intend to submit a formal planning application to Manchester City Council at some point in August 2012.  Objectors will have 21 days of formal consultation period to submit their views upon registration of the application.

A view of the area as it is now

Stop Expansion at Manchester Airport organised a 'Biodiversity Walk' around the affected site in May 2010.  Shortly after local activists blockaded the current World Freight Centre and staged an airside protest around the wheel of Monarch Airline jet against plans to expand the airport and demolish local homes. 

Osborne delays launch of government aviation consultation to “summer” 2012

(Adapted from Airport Watch:)

The aviation consultation that had been intended to start sometime between the Budget and the end of March 2012 appears now to have been postponed, to an unspecified date – probably some time after May.


In his Budget speech, George Osborne said: "I also believe this country must confront the lack of airport capacity in the South East of England – we cannot cut ourselves off from the fastest growing cities in the world. The Transport Secretary will set out Government thinking later this summer.”  
This appears to have taken the DfT themselves by surprise.  It is speculated that the reason may have been disagreement between George Osborne and the Lib Dems, on the desirability of future aviation expansion.  


So it appears that the DfT’s  Aviation Framework Policy consultation will now take place some time after May this year.


It is thought that there will be two consultation documents and the consultations will run in parallel. 
The first consultation is focused on the policy framework and is likely to run for 4 months; the second consultation is a call for evidence on UK hub connectivity which will run for 4-6 months. 


Based on Osborne’s budget commitment to ensure the UK remains well connected, it will seek general views on connectivity and the role of a UK hub(s) while inviting any specific proposals on how hub connectivity can be improved (e.g. detailed submissions on Heathrow or alternative proposals such as Thames estuary – they want evidence and specific plans with locations, how it ties in to surface access network etc, not concept designs).  Any proposal must also meet the criteria set out in the general framework consultation document.


One reason for the delay over the consultation may be that ministers want to combine the issue of an airport hub,  with giving consideration to aircraft emissions policies.


DfT expect the final policy document would appear in March 2013 although it could be published earlier if Ministers wish.


In his Budget speech, George Osborne said:


“We’re the first British government to set out in a National Infrastructure Plan the projects we are going to prioritise in the coming decade."


“The roads, railways, clean energy and water, and broadband networks we need are all identified."


“I also believe this country must confront the lack of airport capacity in the South East of England – we cannot cut ourselves off from the fastest growing cities in the world."


“The Transport Secretary will set out Government thinking later this summer.”

SEMA response to government Scoping Document on new aviation policy

Stop Expansion at Manchester Airport submitted a response to the Department for Transport's 'Scoping Document'.

The response can be read here:

http://www.aef.org.uk/downloads/Stop_Expansion_at_Manchester_Airport_response_to_Scoping_Document.pdf

The response was endorsed by Councillor Martin Eakins and Manchester Friends of the Earth.

Response deadline for Government 'Scoping Document' 20th October 2011

The closing date for submissions for the Government's 'Scoping Document' is approaching on Thursday 20th October 2011.
The Scoping Document will help to draft new aviation policy to be released for public consultation in March 2012. The new policy will come into force in March 2013.
Airport Watch, the national umbrella organisation uniting environmental organisations, community groups and individuals opposed to airport expansion have produced a response here.

This includes a number of supporting documents on:
- climate change
- noise
- economics
- biofuels
- health impacts
- business connectivity and more.

If you wish to respond to the consultation, the details can be found below:

Sustainable Framework for UK Aviation

Date published: 30 March 2011

Closing date: 20 October 2011

The Scoping Document frames the debate and asks a series of questions to initiate a dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders on the future direction of aviation policy.

Download documents

Developing a sustainable framework for UK aviation: Scoping document (375 kb)

Reply to consultation by Email: aviation.policyframework@dft.gov.uk

Or by Post:

Aviation Policy Framework Department for Transport
Great Minster House (1/24)

76 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DR

SEMA submission to planning framework consultation

SEMA made an official submission to the "Core Strategy Pre-Publication Partial Consultation". This is part of forming the Local Development Framework for the Greater Manchester region. This is the framework against which future planning decisions will be made, including airport expansion plans.
 
You can see the documents that are being consulted on here:
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/downloads/download/3983/core_strategy_pre-publication_partial_consultation

The 'Need for Land' documents exactly details exactly how Manchester Airport is proposing to expand. It's a long read but how individual projects such as expanding the Freight Centre over Hasty Lane are part of a much larger, long-term plan to increase capacity and flight numbers. More flights, more noise, more emissions.

SEMA's submission argues that since the future of national aviation policy is unclear, including the High Court ruling that the 2003 Air Transport White Paper is not compatible with the 2008 Climate Act, it would be unwise for the Council to support expansion plans at this time. It also details arguments about the effects of the airport on jobs and the economy in the North West region.