Fear of new airport bid

Controversial expansion plans for Wolverhampton Airport at Bobbington have re-appeared as residents fear they face gearing up for battle once again.

Proposals to increase the size of the airport have met fierce opposition in the past. Residents in nearby Kinver, Stourbridge, say the move could destroy the village.

But despite the opposition, planning guidelines in the latest Regional Spatial Strategy discuss Bobbington and Coventry airports together complementing the role of Birmingham Airport.

Campaigners fear the new policy does not confine the airport at Bobbington to a business-only role and give it the same status as Coventry, a far larger passenger airport which flies a million people to foreign destinations every year.

Members of the Wolverhampton Airport Action Group (WAAG) formed in Kinver, say that "lumping" the two together in planning policy could mean bosses might plump for a big expansion in the future.

Kinver Parish Council is among those concerned by the re-apperance of talk about expansion of the airport. Chairman Ena Ray said any expansion would be "devastating" for the village.

She said: "The airport is there but we do not want to see it expanded. Having commercial flights over Kinver would destroy it. It would be devastating."

Last year the airport's new owners Mar Properties insisted that passenger airlines would not be flying out of Wolverhampton and that business aviation was the preferred option.

But Kinver resident David Giddings, spokesman for WAAG, said: "The airport should continue its current role of serving the business and general

Airport bosses were unavailable for comment this morning but said recently their new plans for its redevelopment will be released later this year.

Kinver Parish Council will discuss the issue at the parish council's next meeting on March 5.