Thank you for you letter of 14th April.

It is the policy of the Shepway Liberal Democrats to oppose the proposed expansion of Lydd Airport. Like many other organisations, we have expressed worries that the local environmental impact of this proposal have not been addressed adequately.

When the question of expansion of the terminal and lengthening of the runway at Lydd Airport came before Folkestone Town Council we had presentations from London Ashford Airport and from Lydd Airport Action Group. Frankly, the presentation from the former was much better than that from the latter. I cannot deny that there are local economic gains related to airport expansion (in the form of jobs at the airport and in ancillary services) as well as potential local economic losses (from possible loss of tourism on Romney Marsh). We Folkestone town councillors were asked to vote to support expansion, but that vote was lost; I voted for the successful alternative motion that requested a public inquiry be held before planning permission is granted.

However, I find it ironical and bizarre that many opponents of the expansion at Lydd Airport state that their reason is that it could prevent the construction of Dungeness C, with the loss of potential jobs there. Anybody who says that is no friend of the environment.

With regard to the possible Dungeness C Nuclear Power Station, I oppose this. I have no faith in the economic worth of nuclear power. The economic and 'carbon footprint' costs of construction, maintenance, and finally, decommissioning, are huge. The potential environmental dangers are beyond belief. With regard to danger, we must not forget that Dungeness is only one of four nearby nuclear power station sites; unfortunately we have no power to influence the future of the others across the Channel in France.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Hugh Robertson-Ritchie
Folkestone Town Council