Birmingham consults with locals on expansion

The managers of Birmingham Airport have been holding consultations with local people to gauge opinion regarding plans for expansion at the hub.

Representatives from the West Midlands base began holding talks with local residents on November 19th and will continue to do so at various locations throughout the region until December 1st.

A statement from the airport said that the exercise is intended to "engage with the local community" about the forthcoming application for permission to expand, which will be submitted to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council before the end of the year.

Among the issues under discussion is possible extension of the runway at Birmingham Airport and a new air traffic control tower.

In October 2005 a draft masterplan was published, detailing proposals for a second runway at Birmingham, but the operator of the airport announced recently that a new landing strip would not be required until the year 2030.

A new masterplan outlining other plans up to 2030 is expected to be published before the end of the month.