The future of the airport at Rochester will once again come under scrutiny when the Local Plan inquiry re-opens in September 2001.
last of which was held on April 11th, the result came out narrowly in favour of airport closure and redevelopment. The Local Plan inquiry will decide whether the council's deposited plans relating to the future of the airport are accepted or rejected by the government inspector.
On the basis of the various council votes it looks highly likely that Medway Council will persist in its determination to close the airport completely and redevelop the land unless the objectors to the Local Plan can convince the planning inspector that the council is not acting according either to the wishes of the people or the guidance given by government in its planning policy guidance documents.
The apparent lack of regard by Medway council of government guidance in PPG13, and particularly the latest revision, is already the subject of an allegation of maladministration against Medway Council. Furthermore, Medway Council are being told by DETR Aviation Policy Unit that Paragraph 6 of Annex B, PPG13, shall be complied with. Local Plan inspectors have already asked Medway Council to comment upon other alterations in Government policy which have recently occurred and will be obliged to take into account.
If, in spite of all this, the deposit local plan enshrines a policy of closure, then a similar appeal is possible in the form of a judicial review and a calling in of the local plan by the DETR.