Campaigners who led a fierce two-year battle against expansion at Birmingham Airport today pledged to mount a legal challenge against plans for a second runway. The angry protesters said they were "bitterly disappointed" following Transport Secretary Alistair Darling's announcement yesterday - and vowed to continue their fight. Maggie Throup, who spearheaded the campaign opposing expansion, said: "This is a truly dismal day for the whole of Solihull. "Everyone is bitterly disappointed and we now need to put together a very comprehensive plan of action. "We now know it's the Birmingham Airport counter proposals which people have not been consulted on at all, so we believe we have a good case for a legal challenge." Mr Darling yesterday launched the Govern-ment's long-awaited White Paper which proposed a second runway at Birmingham by 2016, and ruled out plans for a £7 billion airport near Rugby and expansion of an airport at Wolverhampton. The Birmingham plans have been welcomed by business leaders across the Midlands, but John Cattell, owner of Hop-wood Organic Farm in Catherine-de-Barnes, said they posed two major problems for Solihull residents. The 34-year-old, who will lose part of his land if a second runway is built, said: "The first issue is the fact that a date has been put on this. "We have been told that the runway could be built by 2016. "I don't see how Mr Darling can say that because the Government is not financing the project but the airport. "Secondly, and most importantly, is the issue that a definitive cut-off point has now been put into place. "We are talking about expansion in 13 years' time and this puts a terrible weight on people's shoulders. "They will now have to make life-changing decisions about moving away from the area and selling their homes." He added: "They have now got this hanging over them and there is no facility in place for compensation." Peter Morris, 56, a business development manager from Damson Parkway, said he was "absolutely appalled" at the announcement. He said: "We now have to sit down and re-trench and relaunch the campaign. People have worked so hard for the past 18 months and we need to keep fighting. "We must get the message across that a second runway at Birmingham Airport is not needed and not wanted by the 200,000 residents of Solihull." More airport stories | 
Article
