Llanbedr Airport - Latest
The Society is currently running a campaign to stop the opening of a commercial airport at Llanbedr. The site was a RAF base which closed in 2004. The Welsh Government wishes to lease the land, currently in public ownership, for the next 125 years to the Kemble group. Kemble is a commercial aviation operator. Llanbedr has a 1.4 mile runway suitable for the largest jets.
We are opposed to this development and consider it to be contrary to the statutory purposes of the Snowdonia National Park. The support of the Council for National Parks and our colleagues in the Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire Coast is greatly welcome at such a difficult time for those who care about Eryri. We are alarmed that Welsh Ministers appear not to have fulfilled their legal obligations under section 62 of the Environment Act. We are carefully considering our legal options including a judicial review.
The elected executive committee of the Society met on Wednesday 21st May in Betws Y Coed. They voted unanimously to endorse the actions taken by the policy sub-committee and officers to date. The executive committee are naturally keen to avoid a judicial review but officers have been authorised to proceed if evidence that Welsh Ministers have complied with their legal obligations under the 1995 Environment Act is not forthcoming. Members of the executive are of course mindful of the potential costs but the fact that we are receiving pro bono legal advice from solicitors and counsel is enormously encouraging. We want to publicly thank our legal team for their wide range of free and expert legal advice on planning and section 62 issues. It's great to have the support of lawyers who care about protecting National Parks from wholly unsuitable developments. They are also advising us on the mechanics of protective costs orders.
Please help us - We want to see the National Park move forward and develop in a way that is compatible with its special legal status. Please sign our electronic petition at the National Assembly. It calls for a full public examination of this issue. You will need to click on the box marked Llanbedr airport. You are also very welcome to join our Society.
There has been significant UK and Welsh media interest in this matter.
Early BBC Wales coverage is here and here
Airport plans "spark concern" - Daily Post, April 15
The matter is briefly raised in a National Assembly debate on April 30
The three National Park Societies of Wales write to the Guardian, May 6
The leader of the Welsh Opposition calls for a public inquiry - Daily Post, May 8
"Anger over commercial flights" - Independent, May 7
"Airstrip could give Grand Canyon style Snowdonia flights" - Western Mail, May 8
Snowdonia airport "may face legal action" - BBC News
"Put up or Shut up" Daily Post May 17
The Society puts up - Legal battle for airport begins - BBC News. The "letter before claim" is here
Lease signing postponed as Assembly lawyers review the project - BBC News
This page will be updated as the campaign progresses - please call back