'Raw anger' at airport's proposal to 'steal' land

BRISTOL Airport's plans to “steal” part of a unique nature reserve in order to fly to America has triggered “raw anger,” councillors have been told.

- JOHN WIMPERIS

Villagers out in force on Felton Common in November

(Paul Gillis)

The airport, located in North Somerset, wants to get planning permission to expand from a maximum of 12 million passengers per year to 15 million, and to extend its runway so it can take larger planes which can fly to America.

But that also means extending the runway’s landing lights across the other side of the A38 road, and onto Felton Common.

Addressing North Somerset Council last week, the chair of the newly formed Save Felton Common group, Debbie Johnson, told councillors: “They seem to think that they can effectively steal this land to further their own commercial gain without caring a jot about this land or the people who care about it - and people do care. It’s not just those living nearby but those from wider surrounding North Somerset areas such as Backwell, Yatton, and Congresbury and from Bristol.”