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Airport expansion should not be on 'Talks' agenda says SEA

Thursday 25th November 2004

Current talks on a deal on devolution must not be used as cover for forcing through the eviction of people living on the Donnybrewer Road, says the Socialist Environmental Alliance.

"Over the past few days, Sinn Fein and DUP representatives have speculated on how to spend the billion pound sweetener they believe they have coaxed from the governments", says SEA spokesperson Davey McAuley. "It's been suggested, by SF representatives in particular, that a portion of the money should go towards the runway extension which Ryanair has demanded at City of Derry airport.

"No money whatsoever should be spent on this project", says the SEA. "It would be socially and environmentally damaging. Despite years of public discussion, no coherent economic case has ever emerged for it. It's just stated as a matter of faith that a bigger runway would be a good thing.

"The fact that families will be evicted and their homes flattened to make way for the runway hasn't been mentioned, even as an aside, in the latest spate of propaganda from Sinn Fein and the DUP", Mr. McAuley claimed.

"By placing the runway idea in the context of their deal, SF and the DUP mean to depict opponents of the planned evictions as hostile to an agreement. This is not true and won't work.

"All the mainstream parties talk about the threat to our environment. They all know that the unrestricted growth in aviation is a major factor in climate change. Yet, told that big business will look more kindly on Derry if the runway is extended, they roll over" the SEA spokesperson continued.

"Instead of demanding more subsidies for aviation companies---which is what the proposed runway would amount to---we should be pushing for aviation fuel to be taxed and airlines held to account for CO2 emissions on the principle of making the polluters pays.

"Most of all in this instance, we should be standing with the people of the Donnybrewer Road and against business interests who put short-term profit before the rights of local people or the protection of the planet.

Mr. McAuley concluded "The united front of Sinn Fein and the DUP on this issue speaks volumes about the interests these parties really represent---for all their loud differences on the flag-waving issues.





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