Manchester Airport - Effect On The Area; Criticism

Effect On The Area; Criticism

Expansion of the airport caused closures of public roads in the area.

• Early development closed Yewtree Lane, which ran across the modern terminal area.
• Building the goods terminal closed country lanes to the southwest of the airport area.
• The 1982 expansion cut the A538 road from Altrincham to Wilmslow and diverted it south through a tunnel under the runway: unlike with London Heathrow Airport not all the area is flat: to the south the land drops sharply into the Bollin river valley, and the runway extension needed heavy embankment building.
• Building the second runway put the A538 through another tunnel, and (this caused public protest and sit-ins) obliterated woodland in the Styal area. It also closed a through country lane from Styal southwest to the A538; traffic along that route now must make a long detour through the center of Wilmslow.

  Between 1997 and 1999 three protest camps were set up to oppose the building of the second runway, the felling of nearby trees on land owned by the National Trust in Styal, Cheshire and air transportation in general. Camps were set up in Flywood, Arthur's Wood and Cedar's Wood. Swampy, a well known activist, was among many protesters.

• Big eastward expansion of car parks obliterated much open land and the community of Heyhead.

The south west end of the new runway is closer to the town of Knutsford and to the village of Mobberley. There has been an increase in noise experienced by local residents from the aircraft being lower and closer and home owners have not been compensated by the airport.

In 2007 Manchester Airport wanted to build on further green belt land in Styal to increase its car parking. However, the former Macclesfield Borough Council refused to give them planning permission to do so and expressed annoyance at the airport for not investing enough in public transport. Macclesfield Borough Council have said that they would consider giving planning permission for a new car park on brownfield land. The airport did not make another application, despite claims that the number of parking spaces was insufficient for the number of passengers.

Despite public concerns about privacy and health risks, Manchester airport has introduced full-body X-ray scanners in all terminals. Under Department for Transport regulations these scans are now compulsory for all passengers who are selected to undergo the scan. Passengers who object to the scans will not be allowed to fly.