Medway regeneration chief to appear at government committee over Thames Estuary airport plans

MEDWAY's head of regeneration is due to appear at a government committee debating Thames Estuary airport plans today.

Robin Cooper, the director of regeneration, community and culture at Medway Council, is due to give evidence to MPs on the Transport Select Committee.

Also giving evidence will be Kent County Council transport planner, Joseph Ratcliffe, Huw Thomas from Fosters & Partners - the firm proposing an airport on the Isle of Grain - representatives from the RSPB and other London councils. 

A report to the committee states the government should "ill-thought out and ill-conceived" Thames Estuary airport plans. It states: "To remain competitive in global aviation, it is essential that action is taken both to increase capacity at UK airports and to ensure that measures are taken to ensure that existing airports operate to their full potential.  

"We can increase capacity by twenty million through improving our rail infrastructure, a move that would free up valuable space at Heathrow for flights to emerging markets."