Second Leeds MP submits objection to £150m Leeds Bradford Airport expansion

The Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) has welcomed support for their campaign to stop airport expansion from Leeds East MP Richard Burgon.

Last week Alex Sobel, whose Leeds North West constituency includes the Yeadon airport, submitted his objection to the plans.

Last month, the airport officially submitted its proposals for the rebuilding of the terminal to Leeds City Council’s planning department.

The plans are for a new "state of the art" £150m terminal which would include three main floors with improved vehicle access.

It would also be closer to a proposed parkway rail station, announced by Leeds City Council last year.

Chris Foren, chair of GALBA, said: “We agree with what Mr Burgon wrote in his objection - ‘the proposed expansion would contribute to the situation of environmental danger faced by all of our society - locally, nationally and internationally’.

Mr Foren added: “It would be plane crazy to allow the airport to double its greenhouse gas emissions in the next ten years.

"Scientists all over the world are warning us that we have to cut emissions as fast as we can.

The Council must help local people find other jobs - jobs with a future, for the future.”

In his objection, Mr Burgon said: “This LBA expansion was proposed prior to the current Coronavirus pandemic and its impact on air travel.

"It would seem very ill-advised not to at the very least defer this application until such time as the future situation is clearer.”

LBA hope that work would be able to start on construction of the site by the end of this year if plans are approved, and for the new terminal to be up and running by 2023.

Their application states that the airport is expecting seven million passengers per year by 2030 - but that it wouldn't be possible without the overhaul.

People who want to make comments about the planning application have until Tuesday, June 16 to do so.

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