Adopt a Hasty Lane Resident campaign set to take off
Article published: Monday, February 1st 2010
This February will see the launch of ‘Adopt-a-Resident’ at Hasty Lane, an event forming part of the campaign protesting against the expansion of Manchester Airport. Hasty Lane, home to historic cottages and surrounded by acres of open ground and important ecological habitats, is under threat due to the plans and its residents are facing forced removal from their homes.
Concerned local residents and Robbie Gillett from Stop Expansion at Manchester Airport (SEMA) are running the event in the hope of protecting the area and preventing the residents from losing their homes. These aims coincide with safeguarding the future of the environment in the shadow of looming climate change, echoing the Heathrow Adopt-a-Resident scheme which is seeking to save the village of Sipson from bulldozers.
Last November Manchester City Council Planning Committee gave approval to plans to build two huge air freight units in order to double the amount of space available for airport hangers. This will allow twice as many flights to enter and leave the airport. Two family homes will be demolished, trees will be felled, and a pond which hosts a colony of Great Crested Newts – the most endangered newt in the country – will be concreted over if the plans are followed.
Peter Johnson lives in Breeze Hill cottage which is directly under threat, with his daughter and son. He believes the process of acquiring the plan’s approval was partisan: “The decision to reject the expansion was unanimous among local politicians, however, this was overturned by the City Council, which has 55 per cent shares in the airport.”
“We need support, we need pressure to be brought upon the airport and the Council,” he adds.
The Adopt-a-Resident campaign is launching on Sunday 7 February and is open to everyone, taking place on Hasty Lane from 1 – 3pm. Residents and local biology teachers will give tours of the houses and wildlife spots at risk and there will be a live video link-up with Sipson village in London where residents are coming close to winning their campaign to prevent the construction of a third runway. Airport Watch Chair John Stewart will talk about the national aviation picture and a Sipson resident is coming to Manchester to talk at the event and share their experiences.
The day will end with the official adoption, in which people will be teamed up with residents to whome they will pledge their support in helping prevent the expansion plans. There will be refreshments and music and SEMA are providing transport from central Manchester.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Martin Eakins who is supporting the campaign commented: “The plans are not economically sustainable. If airports such as Manchester continue to expand in accordance with the 2003 White Paper, international aviation will account for between 86 per cent and 128 per cent of our total carbon budget by 2050, leaving no room for the rest of the economy.”
Cllr. Eakins has started an e-petition asking the Prime Minister how he expects to reduce the country’s carbon footprint when unnecessary expansion in aviation capacity is being rubber-stamped. 347 people have signed the petition so far but at least 500 are needed by 6 February for it to be officially considered. You can sign it here.
Amy Conlock
For details about travel arrangements from Manchester City Centre contact: manchester@planestupid.com
Last year MULE asked questions about the City Council’s Planning Board’s decision to approve expansion of the airport facilities and at the start of the year published an open letter to the leader of Manchester City Counci, asking him to explain the Council´s contradictory stance on the environment and the Airport
More: Manchester, News
Comments
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why not just make trains cheaper?
Comment by Kaye on February 1, 2010 at 7:16 pm
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