The Stansted Inquiry

[Nemesis]

Latest news, for anyone interested:


ISSUED BY STOP STANSTED EXPANSION 23 July 2007



* * * See http://www.stopstanstedexpansion.com/r1_public_inquiry.html for details of the full Inquiry programme for SSE evidence this week. * * *



INUIT LEADER TO GIVE EVIDENCE AGAINST AIRPORT EXPANSION AT STANSTED PUBLIC INQUIRY



The Leader of Greenland's indigenous human rights organisation the Inuit Circumpolar Council and expert member of United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Aqqaluk Lynge, will give evidence this week (on Friday 27 July) to the Public Inquiry into the proposed expansion of Stansted Airport.



Speaking as a witness for campaign group Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE), Mr Lynge will highlight the impacts of climate change which are already being experienced in the Arctic and call for a halt to the airport expansion proposals which would add to the global warming burden which is already affecting the traditional Inuit way of life.



Earlier in the week (Wednesday 25 July) he will address MPs at the Houses of Parliament about the frontline impacts of climate change.



“Climate change is not just a theory to us in the Arctic; it is a stark and dangerous reality. Human-induced climate change is undermining the ecosystem upon which Inuit depend for their physical and cultural survival,” says Mr Lynge.



“You may say that the expansion of London Stansted Airport will play only a small part in increasing climate change but everyone can say that about almost everything they do. It is an excuse for doing nothing. The result of that attitude would be catastrophic. The serious consequences affecting my people today will affect your people tomorrow,” he will warn.



In February 2003, the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) passed a resolution effectively recognizing the Arctic as a "barometer" or "indicator region" of the globe's environmental health. This resolution called upon Arctic states to significantly increase environmental monitoring arrangements in the Arctic.



“The Arctic is no longer isolated from the rest of the world,” Mr Lynge will tell the Inquiry. “What happens in countries such as Britain affects us in the North. Many of the economic and environmental challenges facing the Inuit result from activities well to the south of our homeland and Inuit traditions are being severely tested by the changing Arctic environment. “



“The Inuit people and the Arctic are sometimes overlooked, but in relation to global climate change I suggest you do so at your peril. What is happening now to Inuit will happen soon to you in the South. This is why the UNEP is looking to the Arctic and why you should as well.”



Commenting ahead of Mr Lynge’s appearance, SSE Campaign Director Carol Barbone said: “Stansted will be the litmus test of the seriousness of the Government’s commitment to properly tackling the climate change issue. If Gordon Brown doesn’t grasp that nettle then his claims about acting to address global warming will be exposed as mere platitudes."



BAA is seeking unlimited passenger use of the airport’s single runway, currently capped at 25 million passengers per annum, which could result in the eventual doubling passenger throughput and an increase in the number of flights from 192,000 (latest 12 months total) to 264,000 annually. Permission for the application was refused by Uttlesford District Council last November and the Public Inquiry is hearing BAA’s appeal against that decision.



The Inquiry is currently set to conclude on 19 October, following which the Inspector will submit a report and recommendation to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Secretary of State for Transport for decision. An announcement is expected in Spring 2008.



ENDS



Friday 27 July, Endeavour House, Coopers End Road, Stansted Airport CM24 1SJ



(from M11 junction 8, follow airport terminal signs then yellow ‘Public Inquiry’ signs; shuttle bus available from airport terminal if travelling by public transport)



Aqqaluk Lynge’s evidence will be delivered to the Public Inquiry at approximately 11.30am (depending on the length of time taken by the previous witness – Roger Levett on the Materiality of Climate Change who begins at 10am). This will be followed by cross-examination by BAA’s barristers.



NOTES



The full text of Aqqaluk Lynge’s proof of evidence to the Public Inquiry is accessible on request from Carol Barbone or online from the SSE website at http://www.stopstanstedexpansion.com/documents/SSE22a_Proof_Climate_Change_Impacts.pdf


A full biography for Aqqaluk Lynge is available at http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/aboutPFII/members_lynge.htm


The Inuit Circumpolar Council website is at http://www.inuit.org/index.asp?lang=eng&num=2.


Transcripts of most Inquiry sessions to date appear online at http://www.stopstanstedexpansion.com/r1_public_inquiry.html


FURTHER INFORMATION



Stop Stansted Expansion Campaign Office: 01279 870558, info@stopstanstedexpansion.com and http://www.stopstanstedexpansion.com.

 

[skier-hughes]

Shouldn't they be encouraging the use of public transport rather than "if" it's being used,

(from M11 junction 8, follow airport terminal signs then yellow ‘Public Inquiry’ signs; shuttle bus available from airport terminal if travelling by public transport)

 

[Flyfisher]

I wonder how Aqqaluk Lynge travelled to the inquiry?

Also, there was something on Radio 4 recently about the carbon emissions of maritime transport. I'm thought it was stated to be much higher than aviation but I may have misheard. This article seems to be saying the same thing though.

There was also another recent programme arguing that the 'organic' label shouldn't be used on foodstuffs that are flown halfway around the world, which makes sense to me, but it was a fiercely debated point.

 

[Nemesis]

I post the stuff for information. I don't think anyone is suggesting that all travel be done away with. I also recall discussing maritime travel on this site previously. In fact I believe I posted that Guardian link.

The organic debate is a long standing one, although distance travelled has little to do with organic growing methods.

 

[Nemesis]

Guardian today:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2133120,00.html

 

[Nemesis]

Latest press release:

PRESS RELEASE

ISSUED BY STOP STANSTED EXPANSION 31 July 2007



TRICKERY, DECEIT AND MANIPULATION



Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) has welcomed the exposure this week of BAA's PR agency PPS by the Channel 4 Dispatches programme and the London Evening Standard. "Trickery, Deceit and Manipulation" was the headline used by the Evening Standard to describe PPS's activities, including infiltrating local residents protest groups, obtaining tapes of private meetings, impersonation and undercover operations and forging letters of support from local people.



SSE was astonished when BAA Stansted hired PPS in 2004 because of their reputation for specialising in 'dirty tricks' activities. BAA hired PPS shortly after the appointment of Mark Pendlington as the new Communications Director at Stansted, himself a former Managing Director of PPS.



"At the time we considered this a sign of desperation," commented SSE Campaign Director Carol Barbone. "I suppose we should have been slightly flattered that BAA had appointed PPS but at first we simply could not believe that BAA had hired a company with such a reputation."



PPS was reported by the Evening Standard to be "heavily involved in BAA's hugely controversial project to expand Stansted Airport". Many of the PPS underhand activities exposed by the Evening Standard and Channel 4 have also been used at Stansted over the past 2-3 years including:



§ Orchestrated letters to local newspapers

§ Infiltration and attempted disruption of an SSE press conference

§ An individual, masquerading as a trainee journalist and requesting detailed information from SSE to assist with his studies. The individual subsequently turned out to be employed by BAA's PR department at Stansted.



In the light of the exposure by Channel 4 and the Evening Standard, SSE has called upon BAA to immediately terminate its contract with PPS. Ms Barbone concluded: "The time has come for BAA to clean up its act and return to the standards of corporate conduct and integrity that people are entitled to expect from a once highly-respected UK company."



ENDS



NOTES FOR EDITORS



1. The exposure of PPS's activities was published in a two page article in the London Evening Standard yesterday (30 July 2007) and broadcast on the Channel 4 Dispatches programme the same evening.



2. In July 2006 BAA was acquired by Spanish infrastructure company, Grupo Ferrovial SA.



FURTHER INFORMATION



§ Carol Barbone, SSE Campaign Director: M 0777 552 3091 or cbarbone@mxc.co.uk

§ http://www.stopstanstedexpansion.com

 

[Nemesis]

PPS say:

http://www.ppsgroup.info/NewsEvents.aspx?page=23


(well it will be interesting to see how it all pans out).

 

[Nemesis]

Sad also (as detailed in the latest SPAB mag Cornerstone) that BAA has been buying up historic buildings and leaving them empty and increasingly 'at risk'.

Some of the buildings under threat from expansion:

http://www.stopstanstedexpansion.com/listed_buildings.html

http://www.stopstanstedexpansion.com/photos_houses.html

 

[CHRIS]

Its not just historic buildings that are being left to rot and ruin, just drive past Mole Hill green and see all the sad 1970s bungalows that were once home to local families with nice gardens etc. BAA rents them back to low wage employees with no interest in looking after them and keeping them tidy.

The whole area looks tired

 

[Flyfisher]

The whole area looks tired

That's what these long drawn-out enquiries cause; the whole area becomes blighted and in limbo.

A similar thing happened in the village of Digswell and the area surrounding Welwyn North station in Hertfordshire when it was proposed to widen the two-track Welwyn rail viaduct, which is a serious bottleneck (allegedly) on the East Coast main line.

The whole issue dragged on for a few years before railtrack (I think it was back then) decided not to go ahead with the project, presumably because it was uneconomic. But the delay in the decision caused big problems for people trying to buy and sell houses in the area. No doubt the plans will be revisited (yet again) in due course and the residents will have to go through the whole thing again.

At least BAA are buying up houses from those people who want to move away from Stansted.

 

[Nemesis]

Yes - what a shame that they are buying up listed buildings from people who feel defeated by the plans, and then leaving them to become at risk. If the expansion wasn't proposed then I wonder how many would feel they had to move?

Very sad altogether for this nation's heritage, don't you agree, all this proposed destruction?

Even the ancient Tilty Church will become virtually unusable if the expansion goes ahead.

With regard to a 'long drawn out inquiry' - I don't think this is the case really. However, it's called democracy, and in my view better than not having the ability to challenge such plans which will massively affect many lives and the environment, in my view not for the better.

But you know that really.

 

[Flyfisher]

With regard to a 'long drawn out inquiry' - I don't think this is the case really. However, it's called democracy, and in my view better than not having the ability to challenge such plans . . .

I certainly would not want to lose the right to challenge such proposals, I just think it would be better for such things not to take years and years - eight years, I recall, in the case of heathrow T5.

As for democracy, I'm sure there are millions of people waiting to use the proposed new capacity. Difficult to satisfy all sides, I guess.

 

[Nemesis]

Yeah, pave Paradise, put up a parking lot. Just keep on building - more runways, more motorways... hey, it's someone else's problem!

 

[Flyfisher]

No, it's not somebody else's problem, it's everyone's problem. I don't like being outnumbered either but that's democracy for you.

 

[Nemesis]

Is it? So sheer weight of numbers is all that it's about?

 

[Pford75]

So sheer weight of numbers is all that it's about?

That is the general idea of democracy....you can't on the one hand claim that appeals and right of protest are vital tools of a free society and then cry foul if the popular vote goes the other way.

Slightly unpopular I know, but I'm a regular air traveller and would love to use Stansted more, (rather than trekking all the way to Heathrow).

I love period buildings and architecture as well and in an ideal world, would like to be able to expand the airport and keep all the buildings. Sadly (and I really mean that), it's not possible. I know lots of other people who similarly do want the Stansted expansion.

Anyway, my intent is not to enter into an argument, just to point out that there is more than 1 point of view on the expansion

 

[Nemesis]

Actually, a public inquiry isn't about the 'popular vote'. It's not mob rule. And it hasn't been decided yet.

Oh sure there are people who will use it - people like you, who were able to move away from the noise, destruction and pollution for example?

Maybe though, just maybe, the whole thing could prove to be unsustainable and not worth it in the end. But once it's all gone it's gone. All that history.

I'm not actually arguing - waste of time - I just find Flyfisher's regular popping up and trolling every thread related to Stansted wryly amusing. If it makes him happy...

 

[Nemesis]

Heathrow - may as well add the latest on this here too:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6928545.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6926354.stm

 

[Flyfisher]

I'm not actually arguing - waste of time - I just find Flyfisher's regular popping up and trolling every thread related to Stansted wryly amusing. If it makes him happy...

Hardly trolling*; just replying to your regular postings relating to Stansted, just as pford75 did.

Anyway, my intent is not to enter into an argument, just to point out that there is more than 1 point of view on the expansion

Quite so.


* disagreeing with Nemesis, apparently

 

[Nemesis]

Well it always seems like you love to pop up and be 'oppositional', and you do have many of the hallmarks of a troll, so I encourage you a little. I'd hate you to feel ignored. I treat it a bit like Punch and Judy.

I just post the press releases. People might just be interested you know.