Proposals to build a massive five runway airport on the Hoo Peninsula prompted a full
meeting of the Medway Councils Rural liaison Committee meeting at the Hundred of Hoo School. it was open to Councillors from all of Medway’s Parish Councils and Members of Medway Council.
First of the Three speakers Cllr Rodney Chambers Leader of the Council outlined the events that led up to and the eventual victory of the No Airport at Cliffe campaign some ten years ago. He expressed dismay at the inevitability of having to fight a similar proposal all over again. saying that Now as in 2002 the full council was 100% against proposals to build an airport anywhere near the Thames Estuary.
Mark Reckless MP for Rochester and Strood addressed the meeting and made the point that a Hub airport was neither Good for Birds People or the Economy, it would attract a £50 ticket surcharge to cover building costs. He is working closely with colleagues in Westminster to have any specific estuary airport option removed from the forth coming consultation.
Chris Corrigan from the RSPB made it clear that saving The Thames Estuary as a globally international wetland for birds was the societies most important campaign. He went on to outline how the south eastern corner of the UK and particularly the Wash and the Greater Thames Estuary were the two most important wetland sites in the country. Some 300,000 wintering wildfowl and waders stop over in the estuary on their way south to the west of Africa and beyond before returning north again for the rich feeding grounds of the Arctic.
