Bradford Council said they had no concerns about the Leeds Bradford Airport expansion.

In response to a letter from Nick Smith published in last week's paper, I feel I need to make a comment.

Whilst I agree that the effects of air pollution, noise locally and the contribution to carbon emissions generally have been disregarded by Bradford Council, I feel I need to rebuke the assertions that local Councillors did nothing.

Indeed, this paper published several letters from me outlining what I had asked Bradford Council to do. Firstly, I asked the Council to hold a consultation in the ward on the application to improve the airport buildings and the expansion to flying hours. The Labour controlled Council declined to do so because they said they were not the deciding authority and as Statutory Consultees they were not obliged to do so.

Furthermore, I asked Bradford Council to request that Leeds City Council ask Leeds Bradford Airport to split the application so that more scrutiny could be given to the environmental affects of extended flying hours. Bradford Council did not do this but did mention what I said in their response but said overall they had no concerns and supported the application.

I always felt that the extended flying hours was hidden in the detail and the new terminal buildings would be welcomed. No one would argue that the current infrastructure is anything but poor.

Mr Smith misunderstands the role of Bradford Councillors in this. We have no jurisdiction in Leeds City Council. Our only route is to ask Bradford Council to act. They chose not to.

Our MP Philip Davies and Councillors Dale Smith, Gerry Barker and I all made representation to Leeds City Council along with thousands of other people. We encouraged residents to do so.

Although the planning application has been agreed in principle, I understand that Leeds City Council officers have been taxed to look at the science behind the airport’s assertions versus the affect on people’s health and wellbeing. They may add stricter conditions that would limit the damage.

The tragedy is that whilst Bradford Council and Leeds City Council have both recently declared a Climate Emergency. The residents of Wharfedale bare the brunt of increased flying hours as 85% of flights take off and land over us.

Cllr Jackie Whiteley

Wharfedale Ward (Conservative)