Robert Marshall-Andrews

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Treatment over airport exhibition 'outrageous' says MP

Medway's MP Bob Marshall-Andrews has sent a strongly worded letter to Transport Minister John Spellar which is highly critical of the organisation of the Government's recent airport consultation committee.

Mr Marshall Andrews informed the minister at the Department for Transport, Local Government that he had received numerous and “entirely justified” complaints at the organisation and presentation of the exhibition at the Bridgewood Manor Hotel, Chatham on September 6.

His letter points out several key criticisms of the arrangements including:

• The distance of the exhibition from the affected area exacerbated by a poor bus service
• Lack of parking spaces
• Small exhibition area resulting in huge queues

The letter added: “As I have informed you on a number of occasions, the effect of an airport development on this site would have catastrophic consequences for the environment but also would involve the wholesale demolition of the community at Allhallows and Stoke, extending to some eleven hundred households.

“The very large meetings and rallies which I have attended have generally been constructive and good humoured which is entirely consistent with the nature of the people who live in this close knit robust rural community. It is, I am afraid, quite outrageous that they should be treated in this way.”

Mr Marshall-Andrews also points out that any proposals for a second exhibition sited on the Hoo Peninsular should have enough facilities for such an event.

“I have asked that the Government be represented at a ministerial level as this could have devastating consequences for those constituents involved,” he added.