Tea party airport protest

Brian Lashley

November 23, 2008

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Anthony and Jaime Lowe outside Rose Cottage where they live

PROTESTERS staged a tea party in the grounds of an historic cottage to show their opposition to plans to expand Manchester Airport.

Airport bosses want to build a £20m extension to the freight terminal on land off Runger Lane, Wythenshawe.

They have applied for permission to demolish Grade II-listed Rose Cottage and three other historic properties nearby, as well as a natural pond and dozens of mature trees.

Chilly

Environmental campaigners, politicians and locals braved chilly winds and rain for the tea party at the 400-year-old cottage on Hasty Lane.

Lib Dem councillor Martin Eakins said: "These plans were drawn up before we entered recession. The arguments for local air flight expansion didn't add up then, and they've lost further credibility since.

"The airport should do the right thing and withdraw these barbaric plans before its reputation is totally discredited."

Committee

The plans are expected to go before the main planning committee next month.

A spokesman for Manchester Airport said: “Rose Cottage and the area around it have been proposed for airport development since 1974 and we have kept our tenants informed of the plans.

“The long term prospects for aviation freight are strong, and we want to continue to build upon the success that Manchester Airport has provided for our region in terms of economic growth.”

The airport forecasts cargo using its World Freight Centre will increase from the current 166,000 tonnes to more than 271,000 tonnes by 2015. They say both units, measuring 196,000sq ft and 50,000sq ft, would create 60 jobs. The extension is part of the airport's massive expansion programme between now and 2030, enabling it to cope with 50m passengers a year and a huge amount of freight.

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Showing comments 1 to 12 and replies | View All

Ace Shakespeare , manchester (23/11/2008 at 19:04)

The usual mlabour/MCC garbage that they spout.It suits them to own a airport and demolish a very important building in the area.ans people say they vote labour/MCC because its a working mans party? where do people get off by saying such stupid statements .MCC

Ace Shakespeare , manchester (23/11/2008 at 19:08)

Where the hell do MCC and the government get away by saying its the party that cares? they care about linning their own pockets above everything else including the climate and the carbon footprint .they tell us that we are getting a congestion charge because of pollution ect but in the end they are the biggest polluters of all time (They own the airport)An want to make it bigger and fly more freight into the area.and while they are at it they want to demolish our heratige and history.STOP THIS PARTY AND COUNCIL BY VOTING THEM OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Pippa, Manchester (23/11/2008 at 21:01)

The airport spokesman referred to Rose Cottage and 'our tenants' - does this mean they own the cottage that they want to demolish?

Neil Mcnab Knows 18+1=19, manchester (24/11/2008 at 02:15)

So we have to have a congestion charge that will make living where I live unaffordable to reduce emissions yet the airport (the worst possible way to move freight for emmisions) are all set for massive expansion. Don't want the congestion charge or an expanded airport thanks. Instead of importing flowers, fruit and veg in these cargo planes how about we just eat what's in season locally. Funny how a listed building can be sacrificed for headline grabbing projects that massage the egos of tin pot no marks in charge of public spending.

Mykiel, Madison Connecticut CT 06443 USA (24/11/2008 at 08:46)

Why not move these beautiful cottages brick by brick into another area where they can be assured of their future. There are far too many beautyful homes like these all over the UK which are being destroyed. If they can move such huge structures like the London Bridge to the United States, it must be a doddle to move these cottages a few miles into the country. England must stop destroying parts of it's Heritage for the so called progress of a Freight terminal. C'mon Manchester get with the Action!!

Alb, South Manchester (24/11/2008 at 10:10)

I'm still waiting for the "50,000" jobs to materialise, that were promised with the creation of runway 2. Manchester Airport have a policy of just plucking figures out of the air to suit their GREED.

Ace Shakespeare , manchester (24/11/2008 at 13:29)

Neil Mcnab Knows 18+1=19, manchester
Dont let that old one fool you "We will only eat what is in season?" Even when food is in season they still import food from all over the world what they really mean is "Food that is in season can be bought cheaper in other countries" GREED PURE GREED. We survived quite well growing and eating our own produce for a thousand years.Since we joined the EU weve become reliant on these massive imports that cost us all in the long run.Pay our own farmers to grow what we need and get our fishing industry back and sod the rest of europe.

Cllr Martin Eakins, Northenden (24/11/2008 at 13:54)

To find out more, and sign our petition against these plans, please go to: http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/RoseCottage

Cheers,

Martin Eakins

Colin Bells bad knee, salford (24/11/2008 at 14:25)

Manchester airport plc own most of the properties (including rose cottage) surrounding the airport. Therefore it is theirs to do with as they wish. The people know this when they become tenants of the airport company. So stop moaning and move on.

Pippa, Manchester (24/11/2008 at 18:39)

Thanks Colin, thought so. You're bang on with your post.

Dave (25/11/2008 at 10:05)

Couldn't they 'do a Shambles Square' and move the properties to somewhere else? It's a shame to lose them, but if they own them they can do what they want. Some of the country lanes around the airport are really nice, it'd be a shame to lose them.

Cllr Martin Eakins, Northenden (25/11/2008 at 16:16)

Colin, you are quite wrong in what you write. One of the four families own their property, but the Airport still plans to demolish it!

Even though the Airport bought Rose Cottage a few years ago, they should look after it and preserve it and the surrounding area as any responsible custodian of this important part of our nations' heritage should do - not simply bulldoze the lot to build a couple of unnecessary sheds.

To find out more, and sign our petition against these plans, please go to: http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/RoseCottage

Regards,

Martin Eakins

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