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Bristol Airport’s expansion plans branded ‘bonkers’
Bristol Airport’s grand expansion plans are “bonkers”, according to one of the region’s scrutiny councillors.
The ninth busiest airport in the UK wants to double maximum passenger numbers from 10 million to 20 million by the mid 2040s.
But all local authorities are facing a target of reducing their carbon emissions by 2036, with Bristol City Council voting to become carbon neutral by 2030.
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Read more: Bristol declares climate emergency and pledges to become carbon neutral by 2030
“Carbon doesn’t know administrative areas or boundaries,” said Stephen Clarke, chair of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) scrutiny committee.
“I think the only possible way that Bristol will be able to achieve its very challenging carbon target, which was passed unanimously by the way, is with the involvement of WECA.”
CGI of how the airport might look in the future
The chairman’s comments provoked debate among committee members from across the West of England.
North Somerset councillor Donald Davies said: “Bristol Airport wants to expand, expand, expand, expand.
“Pollution-wise, I don’t know how the hell we can do 2036 and have any targets or any aspirations for reducing carbon because the airport themselves admit their 2030 target for zero carbon is only for buildings and not for the planes and not for the traffic going in and out.”
Davies, who represents Pill as an independent councillor, said Bristol could be “massively working” to reduce pollution while the airport is working on an expansion scheme which is probably going to generate “as much extra carbon as Bristol is saving”.
Clarke, a Green councillor for Southville, said: “I absolutely agree with you. I think it’s bonkers.”
The airport intends to double its passenger capacity (Photo of bmi regional aircraft landing at Bristol Airport)
But Conservative councillors Katherine Morris and Mark Weston said the airport expansion was in the best interests of the region.
Morris, who represents Downend in South Gloucestershire, said: “Post-Brexit we’re going to need the airport as an attraction for inward investment. You want to get people into the area, you want to showcase that they can move in and out of the WECA area.
“You shouldn’t hopefully clamp down on Bristol Airport.”
Weston agreed, saying: “We’re going to need interconnectivity whether we like it or not. We can’t pull up the drawbridge.”
The councillor for the Henbury and Brentry ward added the city should not expect other local authorities to get behind its self-imposed air quality target.
“I just think it cuts across democracy and our structures if one authority makes a decision and expects everyone else to back it,” Weston said.
The committee agreed to ask WECA about what level of support it could give to Bristol to meet its 2030 carbon target.
Bristol Airport’s plans for expansion are expected to come before North Somerset Council by the end of the year.
Amanda Cameron is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
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