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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Legal fight against airport plans | Legal fight against airport plans |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Plans for an expansion of Stansted Airport in Essex which were given the go-ahead by the government are facing a High Court challenge. | Plans for an expansion of Stansted Airport in Essex which were given the go-ahead by the government are facing a High Court challenge. |
| Airport owner BAA wants to increase passenger numbers from 25 million to 35 million a year and flights leaving the airport from 241,000 to 264,000 a year. | Airport owner BAA wants to increase passenger numbers from 25 million to 35 million a year and flights leaving the airport from 241,000 to 264,000 a year. |
| Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) lawyers said proper consideration was not given to "adverse effects". | Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) lawyers said proper consideration was not given to "adverse effects". |
| The hearing in London is expected to last three days. | The hearing in London is expected to last three days. |
| The protest group has accused ministers of disregarding the climate change and noise impact of the expansion. | The protest group has accused ministers of disregarding the climate change and noise impact of the expansion. |
| SSE is saying nothing new today and is simply re-running its losing case at the public inquiry Nick Barton, BAA | SSE is saying nothing new today and is simply re-running its losing case at the public inquiry Nick Barton, BAA |
| Paul Stinchcombe, for SSE, told the judge, Sir Thayne Forbes, there had been a failure to take proper account of the adverse effects on UK trade and the additional noise that would be suffered. | Paul Stinchcombe, for SSE, told the judge, Sir Thayne Forbes, there had been a failure to take proper account of the adverse effects on UK trade and the additional noise that would be suffered. |
| He said these issues were disregarded, despite the government having acknowledged it was right to consider them when deciding whether to approve the expansion project. | He said these issues were disregarded, despite the government having acknowledged it was right to consider them when deciding whether to approve the expansion project. |
| He said: "It would appear this is largely attributable to a simple error of law made by the secretaries of state. | He said: "It would appear this is largely attributable to a simple error of law made by the secretaries of state. |
| "They decided that matters were immaterial (to the decision-making process) when they were material." | "They decided that matters were immaterial (to the decision-making process) when they were material." |
| The government is defending the expansion project, saying SSE's arguments were "plainly incorrect". BAA and Stansted Airport Ltd are listed as "interested parties" in the action. | The government is defending the expansion project, saying SSE's arguments were "plainly incorrect". BAA and Stansted Airport Ltd are listed as "interested parties" in the action. |
| Nick Barton, commercial and development director BAA Stansted, said: "Today's challenge by SSE is against government policy, not the evidence we (BAA) gave to the public inquiry. | Nick Barton, commercial and development director BAA Stansted, said: "Today's challenge by SSE is against government policy, not the evidence we (BAA) gave to the public inquiry. |
| "SSE is saying nothing new today and is simply re-running its losing case at the public inquiry. | "SSE is saying nothing new today and is simply re-running its losing case at the public inquiry. |
| "As an interested party, we will play an active role in the hearing but it is ultimately for the government to defend its decisions and policies - and we are confident the government can defend itself very robustly." | "As an interested party, we will play an active role in the hearing but it is ultimately for the government to defend its decisions and policies - and we are confident the government can defend itself very robustly." |