In parallel with the campaign organised locally in the two villages, the Anti-Rugby Airport Committee and the Strategic Anti-Airport Co-Ordinating Group continued to campaign with direct reference to Rugby and other villages in the district who were not campaigning in their own right.
By March 2003 they saw a need to bring fresh impetus to their campaign through a leaflet distributed throughout their area. The text of that leaflet is recorded below:
THE PROPOSAL
- In July 2002 Government published a set of consultation documents called The Future Development of Air Transport in the UK”.
- The Midlands section included an enormous new hub airport – larger than Heathrow – between Rugby and Coventry.
- This shocking proposal would destroy communities for many miles around:
- Annihilate Church Lawford and Kings Newnham
- Make life in over 30 other villages difficult or impossible
- Severely damage neighbouring communities – including Coventry, Rugby, Leamington, Southam, Lutterworth
- Destroy thousands of acres of green belt, fields and woodland
- Effectively join Rugby to Coventry
- Have giant aircraft passing over the area up to every minute day and night, 7 days a week, for ever
- Have on average 175,000 people (more than double the population of Rugby town) passing through the area every day
- Create devastation by air and noise pollution
- Destroy our way of life.
- Places such as Kenilworth, Stratford, Nuneaton, Northampton, Hinckley, Leicester, Daventry would also be badly affected.
THE BOMBSHELL!
- Analysis showed:
- Factual inaccuracies
- A biased questionnaire
- Omissions of significant issues
The first public consultation was until 30th November 2002
THE RUGBY AREA IMMEDIATELY DECIDED TO FIGHT:
- Villages formed Action Groups
- The Anti Rugby Airport Committee (ARAC) was formed
- The Strategic Anti-Airport Co-ordinating Group (SACG) was formed from a public meeting held by the local MP
- Meetings were held
- A network of contacts developed
- The noairport@rugby Information Office sprang into life
- Political conferences were lobbied
- County and Borough Councils gave their support.
- The area was blanketed in leaflets and posters
- Over 200,000 people sent for copies of the Midlands documents
- Websites were initiated
- 10,000 реople marched locally
- We joined a national protest in London
- Over 80,000 people signed petitions
- An exhibition countered misleading information from the Department for Transport
- Strong responses rejecting the proposal were sent
- Over 35,000 letters and 18,000 questionnaires were sent.
LOCAL AND REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS also came out overwhelmingly against the proposal.
THE MIDLANDS REACTED MORE STRONGLY THAN ANY OTHER REGION!
WE CAN DO MORE!
SECOND BOMBSHELL!
- At the end of the agreed consultation period, High Court action led the Government to announce it would re-consult to include Gatwick.
- This meant new documents and extending the consultation in all the regions.
WHAT DOES EXTENDED CONSULTATION MEAN FOR US?
- New documents and questionnaires adding Gatwick expansion options
- Further consultation until 30th June 2003
- The new information does not change our opposition to a new airport.
- We have more opportunities to continue our fight.
WE MUST CONTINUE ENSURING THE GOVERNMENT KNOW HOW STRONGLY WE FEEL!
ALREADY WE HAVE:
- Analysed newly available information
- Submitted evidence to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Transport
- Provided Parliamentary Questions
- Initiated new publicity
- Up-dated the campaign websites: www.stopavonvalleyairport.org.uk , www.ARAC.org.uk
WE WILL ALSO CIRCULATE ADVICE AND OFFER HELP ON COMPLETING THE NEW QUESTIONNAIRE.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
- Complete the new Questionnaire (even if you did the first version)
- Join the letter-writing campaign
- Put up posters and placards
- Deliver leaflets
- On 23rd May 2003 help at the Campaign Day in Rugby town centre
- On 1st June 2003 take part in the protest march through Rugby
- Lobby your MP
- Continue to demand answers from the Government
WE MUST CONTINUE THE FIGHT!
Government must be clear:
WE MEAN BUSINESS!
WE MEAN TO WIN!
For further details on how to help please contact: noairport@rugby Information Office