Bristol Airport’s ambitious expansion plans have been branded as ‘tone-deaf and reckless’ by the Green Party. The airport’s masterplan to 2040 outlines a proposal to boost passenger capacity from 10.5 million to 15 million annually, promising an additional 1,000 jobs and increasing its yearly economic contribution from £2 billion to £3 billion. Bristol Live readers are divided on the issue with some agreeing with the environmental concerns.
The plan also includes new direct flights to the Middle East and North America, aiming to draw more tourists to the region.
A spokesperson for Bristol Airport defended the plans, stating: “We are one of our area’s largest private sector employers with over 5,000 people working on site. This number has grown considerably over the years, and we expect our proposals to deliver an additional 1,000 jobs. We are a major employer for people in south Bristol, which contains some of our region’s most deprived areas.”
However, Bristol’s Green councillors have voiced strong opposition to the expansion, citing environmental and social impacts. The Green Group leader, councillor Emma Edwards, expressed her dismay, saying: “In the teeth of a worsening climate emergency, it’s frankly staggering that Bristol Airport is yet again planning to expand. The last thing our city and the region needs is yet more carbon emissions from flights, more traffic congestion, more noise, and worsening air quality. We condemn these plans in the strongest possible terms.”
Critics have also highlighted concerns that the expansion could mean the loss of 33 hectares of greenbelt land leading to potential damage to wildlife and the natural landscape. They further argue that only 13% of airport passengers are tourists visiting Bristol, suggesting that the financial benefits will largely flow out of the region rather than into it.
Commenter Pointer2null is not in favour: “When you watch all the planes flying over, and realise that each one is burning about 18 gallons a minute, you start to realize the impact they have. Mind you, that’s still less than the huge container ships that bring all those cheap goodies from China.”
Blackbeard83 agrees: “Instead of vehicles cutting pollution they just increased car sizes to carry more weight. Now they’re increasing airports across the country which will massively increase pollution. Then then turned to carbon capture which is completely unproven. I wonder if doing nothing about climate change is the latest U-turn.”
MartH thinks: “I think Bristol Airport needs to prove it can deal with its current level of passengers before trying to expand. Also I don’t see much effort being made on their part in reducing carbon emissions. I also recall when the Airport changed the direction of the A38 saying it was to provide run off areas and not for extending the runway. However I note they are now talking of extending the runway to accept bigger planes, at a time when smaller planes are becoming more fuel efficient and therefore flying further. As to the need for long haul flights, they tried this some while ago with flights to the USA, which terminated due to lack of passengers. As I see it there is nothing to gain.”
Bristoljon disagrees: “I welcome the expansion of Bristol Airport, they should expand the runway and start doing longer flights from there as well, I do agree that it needs better transport links. I’m fed up with the green agenda forcing me to live my life their way and having their views imposed on me all the time, using a car isn’t a crime and flying on holiday is perfectly fine.”
Mikeey12 adds: “Expand it. I think the Green Party is a menace. All they are doing is increasing our costs of living. The UK is one of the cleanest countries in the world.”
Draintheharbour jokes: “Great news! It’ll be quicker to fly to Spain for the weekend than drive from one side of Bristol to the other.”
How do you feel about expansion plans for Bristol Airport? Have your say in our comments section.