Councilbust

By Rachel Charman

David Amess, Conservative MP for Southend West, asked a number of written questions yesterday regarding the development of Southend Airport.

Mr Amess addressed his questions to the the Minister of State, Department of Transport Lord Andrew Adonis.

Mr Amess wrote: “To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received on the expansion of Southend Airport.

Paul Clark, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport, responded:

“Between late 2008 and January this year my Department received five representations on Southend airport from the Member for Southend, West and one from the Member for Rochford and Southend, East, as well as 13 letters and e-mails from members of the public.”

Mr Amess continued with his second question:

“To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the level of greenhouse gas emissions of (a) passenger and (b) cargo aircraft using Southend Airport in the last 12 months; what representations he has received on this matter since January 2009; and if he will make a statement.”

Mr Clark replied: The Department for Transport’s latest assessment of carbon dioxide emissions from passenger and freight aircraft using the UK’s main airports is published in Annex G of ‘UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts 2009.’

“This is available at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/atf/co2forecasts09/.

“However airport-level assessments are only produced for the UK’s 31 largest airports and therefore no assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from passenger and freight aircraft using Southend Airport is available.

“We have not received any representations on the issue since January 2009.”

Mr Amess’ final question was: “To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received on aircraft noise at Southend Airport; what response he gave; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Clark replied: “No recent representations have been received.

“However in compliance with EU requirements, Southend airport -in common with other major airports-is preparing a noise action plan in consultation with local communities.

“The development of the action plans provides a key opportunity for local consultation on noise issues.

“The airport is currently conducting a public consultation on the draft plan.

“This consultation closes on 9 February.

“The airport will then consider consultation responses before submitting a final draft plan to the Secretaries of State for Transport and for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for consideration for formal adoption.”