Archived press release

Residents in London City Airport legal challenge

18 November 2010

London residents are going to the Royal Courts of Justice today [Thursday 18 November 2010] to ask the High Court to overturn Newham Council's decision to expand London City Airport. The residents are represented by Friends of the Earth's Rights and Justice Centre.

The local residents, from community campaign group Flight The Flights, are opposing Newham's decision to allow a 50 per cent increase in flights at London City Airport because it didn't consider changes to Government policy on climate change or properly consult boroughs and residents in the surrounding area.

Fight the Flights Chair Anne-Marie Griffin said:

"The residents who make up and support Fight The Flights have worked tirelessly for the past three years to stop the expansion of this airport, which already causes so much disturbance and pollution.

"This hearing will allow those who were not consulted, and those who were not listened to by Newham Council, a chance of justice."

Friends of the Earth's London Campaigner Jenny Bates said:

"More flights will mean more noise and air pollution for local people - these damaging plans must be overturned.

"Expanding the airport would increase climate changing emissions as well as adding to breaches of air pollution limits and worsening noise disturbance locally.

"London is not on track to meet either its own climate change targets or EU legal air quality limits - we should be developing plans that improve the situation, not make it worse."

Gita Parihar, Acting Head of Legal at Friends of the Earth, said:

"We believe Newham Council has acted illegally by failing to adequately consult on its proposals and failing to consider Government policy on tackling climate change.

"This legal challenge aims to give both the planet and local people a voice in decisions that affect their wellbeing now and in the future."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The High Court hearing is taking place on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 November 2010 at the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand in London. The decision is expected at the end of the year or early in 2011. If the Judicial Review is successful Newham Council would have to reconsider the application.

2. Newham Council's decision to expand London City Airport by 50 per cent will increase flights from the airport from 73,000 to 120,000 a year. The decision was made in October 2008, after which Friends of the Earth's Rights and Justice Centre submitted a number of letters on behalf of Flight The Flights to Newham council in protest, raising the issues of climate change, air quality and race equality.

3.  On 15 January 2009 the Government announced its intention to reduce aviation emissions to below 2005 levels by 2050. Newham Council decided to proceed with expansion anyway, reconfirming their decision at a planning meeting on 8 July 2009 and issuing formal grant of approval.

4.    Fight the Flights website and blog

5. Friends of the Earth's Rights and Justice Centre provides access to legal advice and representation to people wishing to use the law to protect their communities and the environment. The Centre operates a free legal advice line for members of the public on 0808 801 0405 (open between 6.30-8.30 pm on alternate Wednesdays).

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust