Fight against airport expansion to continue says Euro-MP

12.31.54pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 31st Mar 2004

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne has condemned Coventry Airport for allowing the start of their budget flights despite local residents complaints not being addressed.

Speaking today the Liberal Democrat MEP said:

"Over many months we have asked the airport to address the concerns of local residents, the increase in night flights and the safety implications of the overlapping flight path with Birmingham Airport to name but two.

"We hoped the new owners at Coventry Airport would have listened to local people and abandoned their plans for commercial flights.

"The flights will cause massive disruption to the lives of local people and damage to the local environment. The fact that they have gone ahead despite local opposition and without the necessary planning or an environmental impact assessment being carried out, shows their arrogance and total disregard for the residents.

"The Liberal Democrats have opposed airport plans across the West Midlands and we will continue our campaign with local residents in arguing against the need for expansion.

"Instead of announcing plans for expansion contained in the white paper the government should have set out an action plan to ensure expansion would not be necessary. One way would be for aviation fuel to be subject to the Kyoto Protocol and for it to be taxed in the same way as other fuels."

ENDS