I attended a meeting of the Bristol group of FOE. Not because I was sent in as a spy, but to find out what was happening with the 'Stop Bristol Airport Expansion' campaign. Whilst I, in common with other South Gloucestershire FOE members live in South Glos, I am close enough living in East Bristol, to both Central Bristol and North Somerset for the airport expansion to have a huge impact on my life. I therefore decided to see if there was more I could do to assist in the campaign.

If for a moment I ignored the huge impact that more air travel would have on the planet in general, in respect of carbon dioxide emissions, I would still be against the airport expansion. From a personal point of view it would increase the traffic around the area in which I live. The Chew Valley is the place I go at weekends to bird watch, to walk and to relax away from the general madness of the city and work. The country roads in the area already suffer a huge amount of traffic including many airport taxis. Whilst I am sure there are some local people who do in fact see the airport expansion as a way to increase their income, do the residents of the area really want more traffic, more congestion and more noise?

According to the Bristol FOE group, there are several campaigning groups local to the Chew Valley and surrounding area that are against the expansion. Bristol FOE thought it would be advantageous to link in with these groups at some point. They have already made contact with CPRE (Campaign to protect rural England) and are working jointly on some aspects of the expansion campaign.

Expanding the airport not only means building a longer runway, but will involve an expansion of the infrastructure, meaning more roads, more traffic etc, leading to less fields, less wildlife and more degradation in an area of beautiful countryside right on Bristol's doorstep and the very reason so many people come here to live. I was impressed with the group's knowledge and tenacity in campaigning against the expansion and will certainly be attending further meetings and where possible assisting in this worthwhile cause.

Lesley

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