SBAE (Stop Bristol Airport Expansion) are still awaiting a decision by the Secretary of State on the airport application for a doubling in terminal size and an increase in car parking in the green belt. This would lead to a 60% increase in flights and growth to 10 million passengers per year. We are hopeful that a public inquiry will be granted, if not we are looking towards a judicial review. We will keep you informed of developments. See details of how you can help us at the end of this message.

Meanwhile an application for a hotel at the airport has been submitted to North Somerset Council. SBAE are objecting to this application on the following grounds:

* the application is premature due to no decision having been made on the airport application 09/P/1020/OT2 to take passenger numbers to 10 million passengers per annum, or on allowing development in the greenbelt
* the hotel space should be used to provide an additional multi storey car park in order to save greenbelt land on the South side from being used as a car park. This would also help protect wildlife especially the lesser horseshoe bat which feeds close by.
* the hotel is twice the capacity of that stated in the master plan and main planning application so its impacts were not accounted for when the previous decision was made
* with 250 bedrooms, the new hotel would take away custom from other local businesses, so the net benefits are lower and they help to strengthen Bristol Airport's monopoly on services
* the hotel could be used to encourage unsustainable business models eg fly in, have a meeting at the hotel, fly out - rather than use video conferencing etc

The Executive members of North Somerset Council (in a meeting held 20 July 2010) confirmed that the Core Strategy (which will become policy in 2012 replacing the Local Plan) will protect the green belt in future developments. This emerging policy shows that allowing a hotel that displaces more cars into the greenbelt, and even attracts more customers by car, should be rejected.

Please object to this application by email to dccomments@n-somerset.gov.uk quoting reference 10/P/1240/F. Please email as soon as possible.

Legal Challenge Fund:
If you want to contribute to our fund to fight the main expansion application at judicial review or public inquiry, you can use PayPal at http://www.stopbia.com or by sending a cheque made payable to "SBAE" to:
Stop Bristol Airport Expansion,
The Hub Bristol,
3rd Floor,
Bush House,
72 Prince Street,
Bristol BS1 4QD

SBAE wish you happy holidays.