Jonathan Djanogly, the Member of Parliament for the Huntingdon Constituency, today attacked the Government for its lack of consultation on the Government's Consultation on a proposed airport at Alconbury Airfield.
Mr Djanogly said:
"The first time that the Government consulted on Alconbury Airfield, last year, they did hold a public exhibition, which I managed to have moved from Peterborough to the Marriott in Huntingdon.
At the time, I complained to the Government that consultation had been inadequate for a variety of reasons.
The Government is currently reconsulting on their airport proposals for the South East, following the inclusion of Gatwick in the overall proposals.
On the basis that the Government were reconsulting I asked a Parliamentary Question, of the Secretary of State for Transport, as to whether he would be mounting a further exhibition in Huntingdon.
I am very sorry to have to advise local people that the Government have turned my request down. I have been told that a public exhibition was held on 2 and 3 May 2003 at the Gatwick Hilton Hotel and that a further public exhibition is to be held on 31 May at the Arora Hotel in Crawley!
The proposals for an airport are arguably the most significant planning proposal ever announced for Huntingdonshire " I am therefore extremely concerned with this flagrant refusal of the Government to exhibit its proposals locally, let alone take proper notice of my constituents' concerns." "