Our cause:

We have begun the process of Judicial Review of the government's recent decision to allow massive expansion of Luton Airport. The development would destroy a county wildlife site to build a second terminal, add 70,000 more flights a year, and increase night flights by 70%. Existing road and rail congestion would be increased by 15 million more passengers a year than in 2024.

The expansion application was carefully examined by National Planning Inspectors, who recommended it should be refused due to additional greenhouse gas, noise, environmental and local transport impacts.

The government overruled this recommendation and on April 3rd granted permission for the expansion. We have taken legal advice and we believe that the Secretary of State's decision-making was unlawful, and so we are fighting to get the decision quashed.

We are asking for help from anyone concerned about the climate change impacts of continued airport expansion, and about preserving quality of life in North & West Herts and South Beds.

The costs of airport expansion:

Britain already faces significant economic challenges, and encouraging more cheap flights has costs.

In 2019, when aviation was at its busiest, there was a £30bn balance of trade deficit in tourism according to the Office for National Statistics.

Aircraft noise at night increases the chance of stroke or heart disease according to the World Health Organisation, which adds to NHS costs.

Increased gridlock penalises other local people and businesses, and the transport infrastructure and rural roads are insufficient to cope with the additional passengers at Luton Airport, according to the Planning Inspectors.

And noise blight caused by so many additional flights is likely to negatively affect economic prosperity in the area.

The increasing costs of damage caused by climate change will rub out any benefits from the government’s Green Power Plan in 5 years according to the New Economics Foundation.

Funding for this challenge is being gathered by the West Herts Environmental Foundation charity, which can claim gift aid where appropriate.