Liberal Democrat Councillors were tonight forced to vote against their own motion when a wrecking amendment was tabled by the ruling Conservative Group. The amendment was also supported by Labour and independent Councillors.

The Lib Dem motion was to have clearly shown the Council’s opposition to expansion on environmental, economic and congestion grounds.

This disgraceful Conservative amendment reversed our motion to such an extent that we were forced to vote against it. Our position was clearly stated in the original motion. We believe unfettered airport expansion to be incompatible with efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, we are concerned about increases in traffic – especially in rural areas, noise and that the economic and jobs benefits have been overstated.

We can only conclude that the Conservatives decided to table this wrecking amendment because they are in favour of airport expansion with the resulting increase in air pollution, noise pollution and congestion on our roads.

It seems that it is only the Lib Dems who are concerned about climate change. The Tories and Labour in B&NES have endorsed unlimited airport expansion.