Welcome To Coventry Airport

Good News for Coventry Airport

7th April 2006

Good News for Coventry Airport

Coventry Airport today received good news on the long awaited joint decision of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Transport regarding the Airport’s Interim Passenger Facility (IPF). Their decision approves of the operation of the IPF and confirms it has full legal planning consent.

The IPF was the subject of a long Public Local Inquiry (PLI) brought by the planning authority Warwick District Council (WDC) which ended in June 2005.The PLI concluded with WDC supporting the operation of the IPF subject to a mitigation package offered by the airport company. Objectors to the Airport had contended that planning permission should be refused for the continued operation of the IPF.

The low cost airline Thomsonfly.com has operated through the IPF since they started operations in March 2004 and have carried approximately 1.2 million passengers through Coventry Airport to date.

Chairman of Coventry Airport, Mr Bill Savage said,

“We are absolutely delighted that our original decision to operate the IPF and the principle of continuing operation of passenger flights has been approved and supported by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Transport on the recommendation of the independent professional planning inspectors.”

“We see this as a very strong confirmation that passenger operations at Coventry Airport are supported by the Government and although we welcome this support we now need to concentrate on the current planning inquiry to seek approval for a new terminal building to replace the IPF, increase passenger service levels and provide an appropriate facility that has tremendous support from the vast majority of Coventry and Warwickshire residents and businesses. Naturally this larger facility is accompanied by the offer of a substantially increased mitigation package”.

***Ends***

For further information contact:

Sue Lindsay

Marketing & PR Manager

Coventry Airport

Tel: 02476 308681

Mob: 07904 639101

slindsay@coventryairport.co.uk

Editors Notes:

1. The PLI considering the IPF commenced on 1st February 2005 and completed in June 2005

2. A detailed mitigation package was offered by Coventry Airport for the operation of the IPF and approved by WDC which is wide ranging but includes :- Sound Insulation Grant Schemes to eligible local residents adversely affected by aircraft noise emissions; A ban on night flying by the noisiest aircraft; a quiet operations policy that places restrictions on the way and times that aircraft operate; a night noise quota budget to ensure continually reducing night noise emissions; traffic improvements to Toll Bar Island junction; funding for improvements in public transport access to the airport:

3. The Airport is currently seeking planning approval for a permanent passenger terminal building to accommodate up to 2 million passengers per annum. This second PLI commenced on 10th January 2006 and is scheduled to sit for 48 inquiry days and is expected to be concluded by mid July 2006. This application is offered with a substantially increased mitigation package, subject to receiving planning consent.The application is supported by WDC, Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council, The Highways Agency and Warwickshire and Coventry Chamber of Commerce.

Media Enquiries Contact: Sue Lindsay +44 (0) 2476 308681

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