EU demands improved Public Consultation Sept02 |
Bashir Khanbhai, Conservative MEP for the East of England, is
demanding that the proposed expansion at Stansted airport becomes the
first British project to be considered under the terms of a European
Parliament report encouraging greater public participation in
environmental decision-making. The proposed Directive would require the 15 member states of the
European Union to ensure that the public is properly informed about
proposals for plans or programmes, and that relevant information about
such proposals is made available to them. The public should also be able
to express comments and opinions before decisions on the plans and
programmes are made. Speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mr Khanbhai
said: "This report is extremely important for the East of England in
light of the current proposals for the massive expansion of Stansted
airport. "It is crucial that the local community is made aware of all
the options available to them. This means giving better access to
information on the proposals and keeping them fully informed of the
ongoing developments. "I call on the UK Government and British Airports Authority
(BAA) to take into account the European Parliament's recommendations and
ensure that the public is given the opportunity to participate fully in
this consultation process before a final decision is made." Mr Khanbhai is asking the BAA and the Department of Transport to
provide a mobile exhibition on the plans for new and expanded airports in
the South East to tour local communities around Stansted so that they are
properly informed.. |