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Plans revealed for airport on Hoo Peninsula

Hoo Peninsula
Hoo Peninsula

A Kent Tory MP reacted with fury today to London Mayor Boris Johnson's plans for an international airport on the Hoo Peninsula.

Chatham & Aylesford's Tracey Crouch tweeted: "Am exasperated with Boris's mutterings about an airport in Medway.

"He should concentrate on existing London airports instead of a new one in Kent."

It followed the leader of Medway council revealing he is furious at the plans for an international airport.

The proposal is one of several options being considered by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

Mr Johnson believes extra flight capacity must be found around London for it to remain one of the leading world cities.

From 2001 to 2004, Cliffe, which is on the Peninsula, was fourth on the government's list of sites for a new airport, but after fierce opposition the area was ruled out.

Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson

The latest proposal has been put forward by John Olsen, the British former head of aviation firm Cathay Pacific Airways. It follows previous plans to build an airport on an island in the Thames Estuary.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said the deputy chairman of Transport for London, Daniel Moylan, is working on a review that will take into account Mr Olsen's proposal. Cllr Rodney Chambers, leader of Medway Council, has branded the idea as obscene.

He said: "I am furious that this unwelcome proposal to concrete over the Hoo Peninsula to create an international airport is back on the table.

"In 2002 we successfully fought proposals to build an airport on green fields and internationally important wetlands in Medway and we will do so again.

"The pie in the sky idea of building an airport in the Thames Estuary, being pushed by Boris Johnson to deflect the debate away from Heathrow expansion, is virtually dead.

"Yet still Boris persists by resurrecting unacceptable proposals to build an airport in Medway that would cause massive environmental damage and be potentially dangerous to passengers and aircraft through the risk of bird strike.

"The solution to increasing airport capacity in the south east needs to involve using capacity nationally not destroying a precious greenfield site in the south east.

What do you think? Join the debate by adding your comments below
What do you think? Join the debate by adding your comments below

"Birmingham Airport, for example, wants to expand. In a recent survey, nearly half of Londoners said they would fly from there when the high-speed train link between London and Britain's second city is built."

Cllr Chambers has called on the MPs of Medway and North Kent to stand up for the area and declare their opposition to building to the airport plans.

He added: "I call on the coalition government to unequivocally rule out building an airport on the Hoo Peninsula.

"Medway fought the last government's proposals for this and we will fight once again. We were right last time and we will be right again.

"This is an obscene proposal that must never be allowed to get off the ground."

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