Climate Emergency demands halt to Leeds Bradford Airport expansion

From: Janet Matthews, Hustlers Row, Leeds.
Extinction Rebellion activists protest against the expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport.Extinction Rebellion activists protest against the expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport.
Extinction Rebellion activists protest against the expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport.

HASN’T coronavirus taught us we need to respect the planet more? There must be less CO2 emissions – we need to fly less, not more.

I propose to object to the expansion in terms of number of passengers and extension of flying hours of the Leeds Bradford Airport on the following grounds.

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Damage to the climate: In this time when a climate emergency has been declared, surely there must be no more damage to the climate? LBA’s expansion would double its greenhouse gas emissions.

Should Leeds Bradford Airport be given planning permission to expand?Should Leeds Bradford Airport be given planning permission to expand?
Should Leeds Bradford Airport be given planning permission to expand?

More noise: The lockdown period has demonstrated the benefits of the quiet compared to the existing levels of flying. I object to any increase in noise from aeroplanes, not only in terms of numbers of flights but also the extension of flying times.

LBA wants to extend flying times by 90 minutes, starting at 6am and finishing at 11.30pm. There would be roughly one flight every six minutes. This is not acceptable and will create mental health problems for local residents.

More air pollution: Increasing flights from 38,000 per year to 70,000 per year means more air pollution.

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Worse traffic congestion: Increasing passengers from four million per year to seven million means more cars on local roads.

It’s also unnecessary – aviation industry experts say that demand for air travel will stay low for several years after the Covid-19 crisis.

If Leeds Council is concerned about losing potential jobs to areas with other airports, then isn’t it time for Leeds to be a leader to be at forefront of creating green jobs?

Devolution case highlighted

From: Michael McGowan, Former Labour MEP, Town Street, Chapel Allerton, Leeds.

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THE case for devolution in the UK has been highlighted by the coronavirus crisis which shows that central government is out of touch with the reality at the grassroots.

The glaring gap between what central government decides – and what happens on the ground – is the consequence of being one of the most centralised countries in Europe.

The ignorance and neglect of life in our care homes, and lack of support for local government over the years, has been become centre stage, and is a direct result of our failure to devolve decision taking across the UK. The limited devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the different views on “stay at home” and schools between central and devolved governments, explains this discrepancy.

It has long been self-evident that central government in the United Kingdom is out of touch with the rest of the country.

From: Geoffrey North, Shakespeare Road, Guiseley.

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RE ROGER Marsh’s reference to the West Yorkshire devolution deal (The Yorkshire Post, May 21), it seems that ‘One Yorkshire’ is a dead duck and the Government’s insistence on city region deals has won the day.

Roger says: “We are at our strongest and best when we work together.” How true that is. But in carving up Yorkshire into city-regions, small towns, villages and rural areas get left out. I can only suggest that local authorities in Yorkshire liaise and act together voluntarily for the good of all.

Let’s hope our politicians rise to the challenge as well.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

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And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

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Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

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