Leeds Bradford Airport expansion will put us on the wrong side of history - YEP letters

FROM: Ian Solomon, via email
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Seventy years ago, scientific evidence showing that tobacco was detrimental to public health was piling up but the public opinion was still divided.

Whenever there was a discussion about the growth of the tobacco industry, there would be two sides. For the first group, the public health was the top priority, and even though the legislation was not there yet, they would do whatever they could to protect their communities.

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For the other, short term financial gain and economic growth of a harmful industry was more important, and since it was not illegal, it was easier not to try to change things too much.

Leeds Bradford Airport expansion will put us on the wrong side of history - YEP lettersLeeds Bradford Airport expansion will put us on the wrong side of history - YEP letters
Leeds Bradford Airport expansion will put us on the wrong side of history - YEP letters

When we look at this today, it is unthinkable that someone would not object to forbidding smoking in a hospital, or banning tobacco ads for children.

On February 11, Leeds City Council had a chance to be on the right side of history, protect its residents from the disastrous impacts of noise, pollution and climate change and reject the application for the expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport.

Instead, in an appalling display of apathy and lack of leadership, the application was accepted with arguments like “if we don’t accept the expansion here, some other airport will”.

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This means that the carbon budget of the whole city will be entirely used by the airport by 2026, even though 50 per cent of Leeds residents don’t fly. Or that all of us living under the flight path are not entitled to sleep or enjoy our shared spaces without a plane flying over every few minutes. Or that if your children go to school close by the airport, they’ll have to put up with a greater risk of cardiovascular diseases when they grow older.

I am not too worried. As science continues to uncover the huge negative impacts of the aviation industry, there will be a day in the not-so-distant future when legislation will put a cap on airport expansions and number of flights.

On that day, with the help of politicians that will then have no other choice, we will find alternatives to keep our economies going, as we have always done.

But I am disappointed. Leeds had a chance to set the example and show the way forward to other cities. Instead, we will be remembered as being in the second group, the one too scared and short-sighted to take action and stop harmful industries before the legislation told us to do so.

Too bad Leeds, I hope we do better next time.