Labour’s Filton Airfield campaign takes shape

The campaign by local people and politicians to resist moves to close and develop Filton Airfield is beginning to take shape.

South Gloucestershire’s Labour Group, which recently outlined its opposition to the closure in its response to a council ‘position statement’ consultation, has now set up an online petition and is encouraging likeminded residents to sign it. The petition is online at www.sglabour.org.uk/airfield-petition.

Labour members also held an informal meeting last Thursday (11th August) for those opposed to development to plan their campaign into the future.

Local councillor Adam Monk (Labour, Filton) said:

“Labour Group does not accept that the airfield should be developed and has made this position crystal clear in our submission to the consultation, which has been passed on to the government-appointed inspector. We do not know when the inspector will decide his preferred way forward, and in the meantime we need to build a campaign with those who share our view. We need to show not only that local people care but also that the airfield can have a future.”

Councillor Ian Boulton (Labour, Staple Hill), Labour’s spokesperson on employment and skills issues, said:

“We have called the campaign meeting so that everyone, irrespective of their political allegiance, can pull together to stand up for the airfield and the thousands of jobs that depend on Filton and Patchway remaining a world centre of excellence in aerospace. I also urge residents to sign our online petition which we will present to the next Council meeting.”

The council’s consultation has come about because of BAe’s announcement that it plans to close the airfield at the end of 2012, and the government-appointed Planning Inspector’s demand for references to the airfield to be included in the council’s future development plans.

Related link: Filton Airfield (The Post)

Source: Labour Group on South Gloucestershire Council

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