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Last Updated: Wednesday, 27 October, 2004, 18:06 GMT 19:06 UK
Residents stage airport protest
Local residents opposed to plans for a second runway at Birmingham International Airport have held a demonstration at the site.

Members of three West Midlands campaign groups gathered at the same time as the airport's consultative committee met.

Many people living near the airport are opposed to the expansion, particularly because of concerns about noise pollution and compensation.

The protest took place outside Diamond House on Wednesday lunchtime.

'Restrictive clauses'

Campaigner Dave Cuthbert said: "You've got a situation where people are living next door to each other and one qualifies for the compensation and the other doesn't.

"You've also got very restrictive clauses on who is able to qualify."

In response, airport spokesman John Morris said: "We've got a couple of proposals on the table which are linked to guaranteeing the value of people's properties.

"So if they come to sell them in the future, they'll get the same amount of money as they would if the airport had not been planned."

Representatives from Solihull Opposing Additional Runways (Soar), Birmingham Anti-Airport Noise Group (Bang) and Save Elmdon Action Group (SEAG) all attended.

In December 2002, the government announced its intention to support the second runway plan in an effort to deal with predicted air travel growth in the Midlands.


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