Proposed Airport (Cliffe) (Hansard, 26 November 2002)

§ Andrew Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) in which local authority areas his Department has initiated(a) public meetings, and(b) exhibitions as part of the public consultation in respect of locating an airport at Cliffe; [82497]
(2) for what reason he has not held public(a) meetings and(b) exhibitions in Thurrock as part of the public consultation on locating an airport at Cliffe. [82787]

§ Mr. Jamieson
My Department has not initiated any public meetings about the Cliffe option, or any other option, as part of the current consultation. We considered that public exhibitions about the options where the public could view large scale maps and ask questions of officials and consultants would be the most effective way to inform the consultation.
Public exhibitions on the Cliffe option were held over four days at different locations. These were on 5 and 7 September at Chatham and Basildon, and on 4 and 5 October at Cliffe and Hoo St Werburgh. The main criteria applied in identifying suitable venues were proximity to the airport option and affected areas, venue capacity, accessibility, and availability.
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§ Andrew Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will rank in order the closeness by proximity of each district local authority area within a 20 mile radius of prospective airport at Cliffe. [82790]

§ Mr. Jamieson
The following list ranks, in order, the proximity of local authorities which are within a 20 mile radius of the central point of the Cliffe option. Only authorities whose central land point is within the 20 miles radius have been included.

Medway Council

Castle Point District Council

Southend Unitary Authority

Rochford District Council

Gravesham District Council

Thurrock Unitary Authority

Basildon District Council

Swale Borough Council

Dartford Borough Council

Maidstone Borough Council

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

Havering Council

Brentwood Borough Council

Maldon District Council

Chelmsford Borough Council

Bexley Council

§ Andrew Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he wrote to local authorities in Kent and Essex formally as part of the consultation exercise, inviting them to submit representations in respect of the proposal to locate an airport at Cliffe; and if he will list the authorities concerned. [82791]

§ Mr. Jamieson
Following the launch of the consultation on 23 July, local authorities in the South East and East of England were sent copies of "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East" main consultation document and questionnaire. The authorities in Kent and Essex are listed as follows:

Kent:

Kent County Council

Medway Council

Ashford Borough Council

Canterbury City Council

Dartford Borough Council

Dover District Council

Gravesham Borough Council

Maidstone Borough Council

Sevenoaks District Council

Shepway District Council

Swale Borough Council

Thanet District Council

Tonbridge and Mailing Borough Council

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

Essex:

Essex County Council

Thurrock Unitary Authority

Southend Unitary Authority
208W
Basildon District Council

Braintree District Council

Brentwood Borough Council

Castle Point District Council

Chelmsford Borough Council

Colchester Borough Council

Epping Forest District Council

Harlow District Council

Rochford District Council

Tendring District Council

Uttlesford District Council

§ Andrew Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what coordination he has organised between different Government regional offices on consultation relating to the proposals for a new airport at Cliffe; and if he will make a statement. [83368]

§ Mr. Spellar
The Government offices for London, the South East and the East of England were members of the reference and steering groups for the South East and East of England Regional Air Services (SERAS) study. Both groups met quarterly for the duration of the study.
Following completion of the SERAS study in May 2002, my Department held regular meetings with the three Government offices in preparation for the consultation on the options for airport capacity in the South East. We continue to meet regularly. Government office officials were also present at the public exhibitions that have been held on the consultation options.