Airport shows off development plans
22.01.09
Bristol Airport is putting its development plans on show as part of a 6 week pre-application consultation process aimed at gathering views on the scheme. It estimatew that the completed scheme will generate around 4000 jobs in the south-west and bring up to £343m into the region. Following consultation, the airport is expected to submit a planning application to North Somerset Council for the range of improvements to the airport’s facilities and services.
The proposals include plans to extend the terminal building, provide additional car parking and create new aircraft stands - enabling the airport to handle up to 10 million passengers per annum, from the 6 million used the airport in 2008. The proposed development will be concentrated within existing operational areas, with the exception of a small area to the south which will be used for additional car parking.
Robert Sinclair, chief executive officer at Bristol Airport, said: ‘This development will enable us to meet the growing demand for air travel in the south-west. The new facilities will make the airport better for our passengers, and allow us to improve the service and range of flights available to local business and leisure travellers. It will also help us attract tourists directly into the region, supporting the local economy.'
Reducing the reliance on car journeys to and from the airport by passengers and staff is central to the development, according to the airport. As part of a commitment to encourage use of public transport, a new transport interchange will be sited on top of a new multi-storey car park and linked to the terminal by a covered footbridge.
Bristol Airport will also contribute to improvements to the local transport infrastructure, working with local authorities and the community to identify priorities. Bus services between the airport and Bath and Weston-super-Mare are being considered. But opponents say the economic arguments are ‘extremely weak’. Hilary Burn, spokeswoman for Stop Bristol Airport Expansion, said the airport's figures did not stand up.
The consultation will run from today until March 6, with staffed exhibitions taking place in the airport’s administration building on:
• Thursday January 22 (12:00 – 20:00)
• Friday January 23 (11:00 – 15:00)
• Saturday January 24 (10:00 – 14:00)
From Monday January 26 to Friday March 6 the exhibition can be viewed between 09:00 and 17:00, with feedback forms available.
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book a hotels bristol airport or park bristol airport at the lowest price, click on these links to two great bristol airport car parking and bristol airport hotel price comparison pages
