Campaigners today issued a call for a public inquiry into plans to extend the runway at George Best Belfast City Airport after the Planning Service revealed it had received 1,704 objections.

Call for probe as planners get 1,704 objections to runway plan

Planners said they received 1,415 letters of objection and seven petitions carrying a total of 280 signatures, but only 12 letters of support, prompting Belfast City Airport Watch (BCAW) to describe it as an “overwhelming thumbs down from the public”.

But the airport said the objections represented the view of less than 0.4% of the population of Greater Belfast and confirmed independent research that the vast majority of the community support the extension. BCAW spokesman Jamie Andrews said the 1,704 objections came despite the Planning Service giving the shortest permissible consultation time of four weeks in the run-up to Christmas.

“It's now imperative that the Environment Minister, Sammy Wilson, listens to ordinary people in the affected communities, and either rejects this scheme outright or holds a public inquiry into it.

“To do anything less would reveal a Minister who is truly out of touch with local people,” he said.

Residents said the extension would enable airlines to fly aircraft with heavier fuel loads, so jets would be noisier and fly lower. The plan is opposed by Flybe, which flies from the City Airport.

But Brian Ambrose, chief executive of George Best Belfast City Airport, said: “1,704 objections represents less than 0.4% of the Greater Belfast population.

“The small number of objections reaffirms the independent research findings, that the vast majority of the community is supportive and recognise the economic benefits the runway extension will bring to the area. I understand many of those objections relate to activities that we do not plan to undertake, such as using larger aircraft, requesting more flights or a change to the operating hours.”

Meanwhile Green Party MLA Brian Wilson has tabled an Assembly motion which calls on Mr Wilson to launch a public inquiry into the extension.

He said it was essential all interested parties should be given the opportunity to state their case over the planning application.

“There is a danger that under pressure from the airport and Ryanair that approval could be given without a full examination of the environmental and economic issues involved,” he warned.

A public inquiry would give the applicants the opportunity to prove their argument that any environmental impact would be offset by the economic benefits, he added.

But Mr Ambrose said Mr Wilson had turned down the opportunity to meet airport management to discuss the plans. “Eight out of 10 of his reasons for a public inquiry are factually incorrect,the others contradict each other,” Mr Ambrose said.