press release
Major flaws exposed in County Council case for Newquay Airport
The first independent report into the future of Newquay Airport has exposed major flaws in Cornwall County Council’s plans for expansion. It will be personally delivered to the chief executive and leader of Cornwall County Council on Wednesday 3 October 2007.
Groundswell Cornwall, the climate change action group, commissioned the report to test the County Council’s claims that Cornwall’s future development can only be secured by turning the regional airport into an international gateway. The report highlights basic flaws in the County Council’s case.
Spokesperson Oliver Baines OBE says: “This is the first time the County Council’s claims have been challenged. They don’t stand up to scrutiny. Many are hopelessly flimsy. We are calling on the County Council for an immediate public debate on their plans.”
The County Council claims: cheap air travel is here to stay.
Groundswell says: the chance for cheap fuel in the future is nil.
The County Council claims: the wider debate around air travel does not apply to Cornwall.
Groundswell says: it’s cloud cuckoo land to think that Cornwall can insulate itself from global issues.
The County Council claims: flying leaves no more of a carbon footprint than driving a car.
Groundswell says: evidence strongly suggests that air travel is more polluting than any other form of travel.
The County Council claims: the environmental impact of the expansion will be negligible.
Groundswell says: the Council claims a threefold increase in passengers. The environmental impact of this will be huge.
The County Council claims: the airport will break even in 2030
Groundswell says: even if true this prediction would mean that for the next 23 years the continuing losses at the airport would have to be recovered from rate payers, or by cuts in services elsewhere.
The County Council claims: the future prosperity of Cornwall is dependent on the airport.
Groundswell says: The County Council’s case is invariably overstated and the airport makes only a minor contribution to the Cornish economy.
The report has been compiled by Elizabeth Baines, a postgraduate student at Kings College, London, and will be available from www.groundswellcornwall.org
Calling for the public debate are: Oliver Baines, Manda Brookman, Mike Haywood, Matt Hocking, Ian Jones, Lorely Lloyd, Peter MacGregor, Mandy Milano, Lindley Owen, Lindsay Southcombe, Verena Stubbs, Mark Summers, Matthew Trevaskis, Tony Wainwright
www.groundswellcornwall.org
Ends
For further details please contact
Oliver Baines
Tel 01726 882501 mobile 07967 604517 email: oliverbaines@virgin.net
Lindley Owen
Mobile 07855 015050 Email: lindleyowen@hotmail.com
Lorely Lloyd
Email: lorely@transitionfalmouth.org.uk
Elizabeth Baines
Mobile 07828 257670 email: wizbaines@hotmail.com
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