I am "strongly opposed" to Biggin Hill Airport's plans to seek changes to its Lease, as my submission to Bromley Council's consultation makes clear.

Running scheduled services and carrying individual fare paying passengers requires the explicit permission of Bromley Council, as landlord. If these restrictions are lifted, even if only temporarily for the Olympics, the Council risks undermining a key point of principle. It might inadvertently pave the way for further legal challenges by BHAL, which, if successful, could turn the airport into another Luton, with larger and noisier planes.

The airport has been around since the dawn of aviation, played a historic role in the Second World War and will, I hope, contribute greatly to the local economy in the years ahead. But, to fulfil its potential, it needs to co-exist in harmony with large neighbouring residential communities. That's why my submission to the consultation urges the Council to give the concerns of my constituents, especially those under the flightpath, the greatest weight in its deliberations.

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