AN 18-month battle surrounding expansion at Bromley's only airport finally ended with a House of Lords decision banning scheduled flights.

The decision is the end of the road for the legal wrangle between Biggin Hill Airport Limited (BHAL) and lease-holders Bromley Council about the nature of flights allowed.

The news was welcomed by the council and by residents' groups opposed to the development on environmental grounds,

BHAL chairman Andrew Walters petitioned the Lords for permission to appeal against an Appeal Court judgement in the Council's favour.

The court saga hinged on the definition of "business use", as the airport wanted to introduce flights for individual fare-paying passengers, while the council insisted only private and charter flights were allowed.

Environmental services director Gordon Hayward says the council is looking forward to getting back to the business of working with the airport as landlords.

Hugh Bunce, spokesman for Flightpath, an alliance of residents' groups from areas throughout the borough under the aeroplane routes, said he was delighted at the news.

"An increase in flights would have had a major environmental impact with noise and air pollution," he said.

"The airport is not suitable for development as it does not have the infrastructure to cope with expansion. The end of the runway is less than two miles from the site of Farnborough Hospital, which has to be regarded as a primary community institution."

Ward councillor Geoff Gostt says he would now like to see the council and the airport forget their differences and work together to make the airport successful.

Cllr Gostt said: "Historically this airport is a big part of the community and we all want to see it successful."

Businesses based on the airfield saw the decision as a blow.

Gold Air general manager Lee Hogman said: "This opposition has really held the airport back. It could never have been a Gatwick or Heathrow. but it would have been good to see some larger aircraft coming or going at Biggin Hill.

"I don't think this decision will mean redundancies but the expansion could have meant new jobs."

An airport spokesman said advice would be sought on whether to take the matter to the European Court of Justice.

December 28, 2001 16:30