Hampshire FOE has joined forces with Greepeace, the Green Party, Airport Watch and local residents groups in a major campaign to oppose BAA's massive expansion plans for Southampton Airport.

Known as AXE (Against eXpansion at Eastleigh) the campaign challenges BAA's plans for a massive fourfold increase in passengers by 2030. June 10th 2006 saw AXE launched by 100 supporters at Southampton Airport where a letter of protest was handed in to BAA's management.

In summary AXE believes that expaning Southampton airport will:

1. Massively increase congestion on all the airport approaches
2. Spread still wider the footprint of noise and pollution throughout South Hampshire
3. Contribute to global warming to threaten the UK's commitments under Kyoto
4. Reduce the quality of life for local residents and impact the learning capacity of local children through noise
5. Worsen the UK balance of payments (already £18Bn deficit on tourism) 6) Discourage more investment in cleaner transport technologies

Click here to view the AXE Website for further information on this campaign.

Has your MP signed up to Early Day Motion 178? Click here for the latest news.

Key Contacts:

• Chris Bluemel, Campaign Organiser
• Ray Cobbett, Hampshire Friends of the Earth Coordinator

Your Chance To Be Heard:

• Please print off this petition, gather signatures and send to your local Councillor.
• Alternatively, please sign our online petition to express your concerns over this planned expansion.

Campaign Poster:

• Link the Campaign Poster.

Documentation:

• Hampshire Friends of the Earth - response to BAA Masterplan1 for the development of Southampton Airport.
• Press Release from Heathrow Campaign Group - May 2007

Useful Links:

• Southampton Friends of the Earth - part of the Hampshire Network, will be taking an active lead in this campaign - www.southamptonfoe.org.uk.

• AirportWatch is the campaign to oppose unnecessary, unsustainable and irresponsible airport expansion across the UK - www.airportwatch.org.uk.

• National Friends of the Earth are running a national campaign including climate change, noise and development pressures - http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/transport/issues/aviation/

• Hampshire County Council overview of proposal - http://www.hants.gov.uk/environment/050815airport-consultation.html

• George Monbiot, his latest article on climate change - http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2006/02/28/we-are-all-killers/#more-977