RESIDENTS in Wyre Forest are being urged to join the fight against the proposed expansion of a Midlands airport.

A cross-party group of district councillors has issued a warning that residents living as far away as Abberley and Great Witley will be affected if the plans to expand Wolverhampton Business Airport are given the go-ahead.

They have organised a meeting to raise awareness about the £400m proposals, which could see the airstrip at Halfpenny Green being turned into an international airport capable of handling millions of passengers each year.

Wyre Forest areas including Cookley, Wolverley and parts of Bewdley could be under the flight path.

And areas including Abberley, parts of Bewdley, and Great Witley in the Malvern Hills district would be under the stacking area for planes waiting to be called in to land.

District-wide

Councillor Nigel Addison, who represents Wolverley, said meetings had taken place in some of the affected areas, but he and Coun Chris Nicholls, who represents Cookley, and Coun Kimberley Poller, the cabinet member for the environment and planning, felt a district-wide meeting was needed.

"Many residents in the Wyre Forest will be affected, both with noise and environmental pollution," he said.

"There is also the loss of major greenbelt land in adjoining districts, which local residents use for recreational purposes."

Local MP Dr Richard Taylor will address the meeting, as well as Margaret Rogers, from Wolverhampton Airport Action Group (WAAG).

"Margaret Rogers spoke at the Cookley meeting," said Coun Nicholls. "Her wealth of knowledge on the issue is immense, and we feel her presence at the meeting will bring residents up to date with the issue."

The meeting takes place at Baxter College, Habberley Road, Kidderminster, on Wednesday, June 11, at 7pm.

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