Luton Airport expansion must be stopped, Welwyn Hatfield panel rules
An Easyjet plane takes off from Luton Airport - Credit: Archant
PRESSURE would be heaped on Hertfordshire’s roads and night flights would cause misery for Welwyn Hatfield residents if an airport expands, it was claimed last night (Thursday).
A cross-party group at Wewlyn Hatfield Council voted to object to Luton Airport’s plan – which could see the number of passengers leap from 9.5m to 18m a year.
It is feared the increase in flyers will put strain on the B653 close to WGC, with politicians now set to contact Luton Council objecting to the planning application.
Councillors made their feelings known at Welwyn Hatfield Council’s cabinet Housing and Planning Panel.
Housing boss cllr Mandy Perkins, Conservative, said night flight noise is already a problem in the borough.
“I am an Oaklands resident and there are summer night where you have the window open and the planes are, or appear to be, coming in so low that I look up and take note of the time and say: ‘If this plane crashes, I can say it came over at 2.44am,’” she said.
Councillor Perkins also raised concerns that any cash developers pay to boost infrastructure would stay in Luton, despite the proposal having a “knock on effect” on Herts.
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In a brief debate, Liberal Democrat cllr Malcolm Cowan said he was worried about public transport links from Welwyn Hatfield to the Bedfordshire transport hub.
