The following article about Southend Airport shows what happens when a Council that doesn’t own an airport operates independently and impartially when making planning decisions.
At Luton there is no independence or impartiality as the Council owns its airport so every application without exception is approved with just a nod of the head.
If the DCO to government for outline agreement for airport expansion is approved then detailed planning applications will be submitted to the Council, by the Council, and approved by the Council for the financial benefit of the Council with zero checks and balances to the detriment of communities both near and far.
Maybe this is fine for the majority here but it should raise alarm bells about how local government is meant to serve the people rather than themselves.
AIRPORT bosses remain hopeful of building a second hotel on site despite plans being thrown out by
Southend Council.
Southend Airport has now lodged an appeal with the secretary of state in a bid to see a 132-bed hotel built.
The proposal, to build the hotel on a staff car park to the north of Eastwoodbury Crescent and close to the existing Holiday Inn, was rejected in September due to concerns over parking.
Councillors raised concerns that by reducing the number of existing parking spaces from 86 to 45 it would push more people to park on nearby streets.
Councillor Meg Davidson, deputy leader of Southend’s Conservative group said that that car parking has always been an issue at the airport but supports a hotel “if it meets the needs”
She said: “We need to see what happens to demand to the airport and if it is actually needed.
“The existing hotel – when things were more normal it was up to capacity. It’s very difficult to see how things are going to pan out in the short-time and how quickly air traffic gets back to anything air traffic levels that we have seen.
“We welcome facilities and things that encourage people to visit Southend.”