Luton Airport decision is an insult to our local communities

Reacting to the decision announced by the Secretaries of State for Levelling Up and Transport that Luton Airport’s application to expand passenger numbers and ignore noise limits has been approved, Victoria Collins Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for  Harpenden & Berkhamsted said:

“The Conservative government’s decision to expand passenger numbers at Luton airport is an insult to our local communities concerned about climate change, plagued by aircraft noise and air pollution and the strain on our local infrastructure. 

“Luton Airport, supported by Luton Council, made this application retrospectively because they had already breached legal noise and passenger limits in 2019, and wanted to press on. This salami slice expansion has unfairly shifted the goalpost and does not bode well for the proposed further expansion to 32 million passengers.”

“Despite the admission that there will be more emissions from aircraft and ground transport, and that air quality will be adversely impacted as a result of this expansion the Conservative Secretaries of State have approved the expansion anyway.”

“With the Prime Minister flying in the face of advice from the Climate Change Committee to halt net airport expansion, and his Ministers pushing forward expansion after expansion, the Conservatives can’t be trusted to tackle the climate crisis or stand up for our local communities.”