'Lives will be blighted' by £150M Leeds Bradford Airport plans say protesters after 'die-in' at meeting

The meeting, which had been suspended for 20 minutes due to protests from climate campaigners, heard from both objectors and representatives of LBA on revised plans for a new terminal on the site, as well as an increase in daytime flying hours.

Representatives of LBA claimed the proposed new terminal, which they hope to begin work on by the end of the year, would be more eco-friendly than the current building, and would allow the airport to increase capacity in the coming years.

But local residents objecting to the plans called the plans an 'abdication of responsibility' and claimed an eco-friendly terminal would be pointless if the numbers of flights increased, as this would massively increase CO2 emissions.

Previous plans to revamp the airport’s capacity, approved by Leeds City Council in early 2019, had included blueprints to extend its existing terminal.

But an announcement was made earlier this month that updated plans would instead see the terminal move but remain within the airport’s boundary.

According to “pre-application” plans, the new terminal would include three main floors and improved vehicle access. It was also confirmed that the new site would be closer to a proposed parkway rail station, announced by Leeds City Council last year.

An airport spokesman told the meeting the airport could indirectly create up to 6,000 jobs and would be environmentally sound.

He added: "We are in the early stages of putting together a planning application. We are engaging with various parties. We are looking to make a planning submission in the spring.

"We want to be able to commence work in winter 2020, with an opening in 2023.

"If we have to go to carbon offsetting, that is what we will do. If the development doesn't take place we do stand still."

Part of the plans also included increasing daytime flight times from 7am-11pm to 6am-11.30pm.

He added: "The need to change flight times is predicated on where the UK sits.

"Because of GMT we fall behind on flight times by one hour. Other UK airports has hours from 6am - the need is to tie in with other European airports, many of them start at 7am."

It was added that the long-term intention for the existing terminal was to demolish it, and possibly replace it with offices and hotel facilities related to the airport.

The airport hopes to start work on construction of the site by the end of this year, and for the new terminal to be up and running by 2023.

Objecting to the application, Headingley resident Nicky Borden said: "Everything I've heard here from those representing the case for expansion represents an abdication of responsibility for the world.

"It's not what the residents of Leeds want. For thousands of people in certain parts of Leeds it will lead to lives being blighted.

"It benefits the better-off people of this city and the world as a whole - three percent of the world flies and the rest don't.

"Noise is a huge issue for thousands of people living in Leeds - if we are going to increase flying by as much as proposed, it will blight lives. A lot of children will go to bed at seven or eight o' clock at night - these planes are unbelievably loud even where i live in Headingley."

Campaigner Robert Pupil added: "[An eco-friendly airport] will be pointless with a planned increase from 4m to 7m - we will see co2 emissions rise dramatically - waiting until 2050 to get co2 emissions right is not the answer.

"Plane emissions must be part of our target.

"Many people might have to think about what they are doing and people might have to take advantage of holidays in the UK and Europe which might not mean flying."

The report, which went before councillors claimed LBA wanted to increase daytime flying hours to ‘accommodate new airline operators’ and bring the airport in line with other facilities across the UK.

It listed 10 other airports across the UK, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, which all operated flights between 6am-11.30pm.

Summing up at the end of the meeting, Coun Dan Cohen (Con) said: "I am very uncomfortable with the small amount of detail to give any particular view on the item. We haven't been given a great deal of information on anything."

Coun Peter Carlill (Lab) added: "The one thing we have found hard is to try and have an understanding as members and residents on what difference they are going to see on their lives. I can't see what this is going to look like in comparison to what is there at this point."

The panel agreed to understake a workshop to understand more about any upcoming application.

ACCORDING TO PRE-APPLICATION PLANS

The lower ground floor would “provide surface access to the forecourt and access to the main terminal by lifts and escalators”, while the ground floor ‘will provide the check in hall and the arrivals halls along with baggage reclaim, customs and baggage make up’.

A first floor mezzanine would house ‘immigration and associated facilities linked to the walkway’, while the second floor would include a central search and departure lounge, retail, food and drink, duty free and premium lounges.

A western walkway would sit alongside the new terminal building and provide contact stands for around 12 aircraft.

It is also hoped the new terminal building would be targeted as an ‘excellent’ rating under environmental sustainability standards, and be designed to maximise energy efficiency and ‘incorporate energy generation on site’.

The report adds the proposal will also involve a new and modified vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access from Whitehouse Lane. The site of the existing car park would be used provide new internal service roads, bus parking and pick up and drop off points.

The existing terminal building’s offices, air traffic control and fire station will continue to be in use with the existing Jet2 offices also remaining in place.