SSE responds to Government’s aviation policy consultation

Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) has provided the Government with a 40-page evidence-based submission in response to its consultation on developing a sustainable framework for UK aviation.
The SSE submission emphasises five key areas:

• Stansted’s role as a leisure airport rather than a driver of regional business growth
• Support for the Government’s position in rejecting any new runways at Stansted
• The value of a cross-party agreement on UK aviation policy as a means of achieving long term policy stability so that communities do not have to face repeated periods of uncertainty and blight due to the recurring threat of airport expansion
• The need to prioritise air travel so that it is focused on meeting the needs of UK business rather than catering predominantly for the UK leisure market
• The need for an independent environmental watchdog to monitor the impacts of airports rather than having to rely upon information provided by the airport owner.

SSE economics adviser Brian Ross commented: “This is a vitally important consultation on future aviation policy which is why, in recent months, we have had a series of discussions with Government Ministers and Civil Servants to help shape and guide our submission. We now have a strong, evidence-based, platform for further policy discussions with the Government.”

SSE’s submission is the culmination of months of work by its 22-strong Response Committee, with each member of this committee dealing with a particular specialism.