Campaigners’ plea as Leeds Bradford Airport decision only days away

Campaign group GALBA has claimed its letter has received support from MPs, councillors and climate scientists, as a final decision is expected this week on plans to rebuild the terminal and runway to increase capacity for flights.

A total of 114 West Yorkshire MPs, councillors, climate scientists and community organisations have signed the open letter calling for Leeds City Council to prevent airport expansion

The signatories include four of Leeds’s five Labour MPs, as well as numerous constituency and branch Labour parties. A total of 20 climate academics, most from the University of Leeds, also lent their signatures to the letter.

The letter reads: “In a few days, 13 Leeds councillors will make a decision that will affect the lives of the people of West Yorkshire for generations. These 13 people make up the committee that will say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to Leeds Bradford Airport’s planning application – designed to increase passengers from four million a year to seven million by 2030.

“Expansion would mean health damaging increases in noise, traffic and air pollution for thousands of people in our local communities. Above all, it would mean a huge increase in greenhouse gas emissions exactly when we need to cut them to prevent the worst effects of the climate crisis – expansion would be fundamentally wrong.”

A report set to go before Leeds City Council’s decision-making city plans panel suggested the plans should be approved, adding that a more eco-friendly terminal building meant Leeds would benefit from lower emissions.

But campaigners say the emissions from extra flights at the airport would dwarf any environmental benefits gained from a more energy efficient facilities.