Plans to expand Bristol Airport were rejected by North Somerset Councillors on Monday.

Bristol Airport had hoped to boost passenger capacity by up to two million people a year, but concerns had been raised about local infrastructure. There were 8,800 objections received and 2,400 in support of the application, which saw Councillors vote 18–7 to turn the expansion down. It now remains to be seen whether the decision will be appealed or if new plans will be submitted.

B&NES Lib-Dem Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency, Sarah Warren, spoke against the application. She said: “Bristol is the largest UK airport without rail or light rail. Its mode share of public transport is a measly 13% and falling, the lowest of all UK airports of similar or larger size.”

The near total absence of public transport across the Chew Valley from the south and east means that the communities of Chew Magna, Pensford, Chelwood and Chew Stoke, as well as Whitchurch Village, and the North Somerset villages of Wraxall and Failand, are all blighted by airport traffic, shining headlights into bedrooms at all times of the night, and making children’s journeys to school dangerous.

“If this expansion goes ahead, it renders everything that North Somerset does to reduce its emissions redundant. Every ton of carbon saved, is simply taken up by the airport.”