CIVIC chiefs in Southampton have once again objected to the plans to expand the runway at Southampton Airport.

After a three-hour long meeting and a heated debate held online, councillors decided to object to the proposals to expand the runway by 164 meters.

It comes as they raised concerns over the impact this would have on noise and climate change.

As reported, Southampton City Council objected to the plans in January this year. 

But Southampton Airport has since amended the proposals and the city council was asked to confirm its position again before a final decision is taken by councillors in Eastleigh on December 17.

At the meeting held tonight, city councillors heard that among the main changes to the plans there are proposals to cap the  airport's growth up to three million passengers per annum by 2033.

Southampton council objects to airport plans

Further planning approval would then be required to vary the cap.

The airport also proposed to increase the financial compensation for acoustic insulation to households from £3,000 as originally offered to £5,000.

Airport bosses said there is a need for the expansion which would allow the use of planes such as the Airbus 320 and Boeing 737.

But several concerns were raised by local councillors, residents and campaigners.

A planning officer told councillors their decision would  come down to "the balance between the economic benefits of the airport and the noise impact on Southampton residents."

Talking to councillors, Lyn Bryshaw, a member of the Airport Expansion Opposition (AXO) group, said: "We urge you to maintain the opposition to this damaging development. Airport expansion would cause huge harm to the environment and local people. The economic benefits for Southampton and the region have been overstated and no evidence at all have been presented to suggest that the airport would go out of business without the extension."

Resident Angela Cotton said the insulation measures would not work if people want to sit in their gardens or enjoy public spaces.

Final decision on airport plans to be made this month

But a number of business representatives spoke in favour of the scheme.

Tim Hancock, chair of Business South, said: "The business community supports the Southampton Airport runway application. The certainty of the planning permission is essential for the future."

Steve Szalay, the managing director at Southampton Airport, highlighted the changes made to the plans.

He previously said the future of the airport will be hanging in the balance if the plans are rejected.

At the meeting he said about 35 employees were made redundant when FlyBe collapsed earlier this year.

But he added: "When Covid is beaten these jobs won't come back because there won't be the routes there. The only way to get jobs back is from the runway extension. Please give the airport your support, support 2,000 jobs and allow to invest in the local economy now so we can recover."

Future of airport is not guaranteed

Leader of the opposition Cllr Dan Fitzhenry said the proposed plans were more acceptable than the original ones.

"The  key reasons for that are about the economy because it is crucial,"he said.

But Cllr Lorna Fielker, cabinet member for health in the city, said she felt the airport did not address the concerns raised.

Before voting several councillors said they were facing "a very difficult decision".

Cllr Lisa Mitchell, chair of the Planning and Rights of Way Panel, raised concerns over the impact on climate change and noise.

She added: "I am not satisfied with the mitigation levels. I do appreciate the airport has moved a little closer to us from our objection last time. But I do have a number of concerns."

Councillors decided to maintain their initial objection to the plans.