Conservative Surrey fails to act for local residents over airports threat

The Conservative-run administration at Surrey County Council have failed to take action supporting local residents concerns over Heathrow and Gatwick expansion, despite a unanimous vote by a meeting of the County's Full Council.

On 16 October, as a result of a motion from the Liberal Democrats, the Full Council meeting of Surrey County Council agreed to " ...write to the Secretary of State for Transport to express its view that while being pro economic growth the Surrey environment must be protected and to express support for the Government's approach in requesting Sir Howard Davies to assess options for managing airport capacity in the UK".

However, it has been revealed in the response to a question from Hazel Watson, the Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition, to today's meeting of Surrey's Conservative Cabinet that all that the County Council has done is "submitted a response to the Department for Transport's Draft Aviation Policy Framework Consultation".

Hazel Watson said: "Surrey County Council's Liberal Democrats asked the Conservative-run administration to stick up for local residents over possible airport expansion plans. At the meeting of Council, on a live webcast, the Conservative administration claimed they would do that and agreed to write to the Secretary of State. The answer to my question to the Conservative Cabinet today has exposed that all they were doing was paying lip service to public concerns. Surrey's Conservatives are not taking the threat to Surrey residents and the environment seriously.

"A letter to the Secretary of State for Transport would carry significant weight and demonstrate that the issue of airport expansion is a major issue of concern, both for Surrey's residents and environment."

NOTE:

Question, answer and supplementary question at Cabinet today:

Question (6) from Mrs Hazel Watson (Dorking Hills)

At the 16 October meeting of Full Council the following motion was passed:

'That this council opposes any proposals out of line with existing county council policy to build additional runways at Heathrow and Gatwick airports or increase air traffic at other local airports.

Council agrees to write to the Secretary of State for Transport to express its view that while being pro economic growth the Surrey environment must be protected and to express support for the Government's approach in requesting Sir Howard Davies to assess options for managing airport capacity in the UK.'

When was the letter referred to in the motion sent to the Secretary of State? Please could the Leader publish the content of that letter and any response received from the Secretary of State?

Reply:

On 26 October 2012, Surrey County Council submitted a response to the Department for Transport's Draft Aviation Policy Framework Consultation, where we outlined our position. In that response we stated that Surrey County Council supports the Government's objective to achieve the country's long term economic growth and recognises the considerable economic benefits that the proximity of two major international airports brings to Surrey. However, the County Council has concerns regarding the potential impact that any expansion of either Heathrow, Gatwick or local airports could have on Surrey's environment and transport networks and will be pressing the Commission for assurances regarding these concerns.

[David Hodge - Leader of the Council, 27 November 2012]

Supplementary from Hazel Watson:

Is the Leader saying, that despite a unanimous vote by the County Council stating explicitly that the Secretary of State for Transport should be written to in person, this did not happen?

(David Hodge just restated that they had made the submission on 26 October)