'Developments of this kind do not just happen. They rely on the
vision and determination of the promoters, and the co-operation of
local council members and officers to overcome obstacles and
reach agreement.' -- John Spellar, transport minister

'In carrying out this work, we have also taken the opportunity to
make considerable environmental improvements to the heathlands and
to Cove Brook within the airfield.' -- Roger McMullin, TAG chief executive

With a host of self-important guests, Farnborough Airport, the
business airport for Europe, a key component of globalisation, was
officially opened on Wednesday 5 February 2003. The fact that it
lacks full planning consent was a minor consideration, easily
overlooked.

For several years Farnborough has been operating as a business
airport. It lacked planning consent, planning consent was not
even applied for until late 1999, but operation was allowed to
continue as it was operated under MoD abusing Crown Immunity.

August 2000, against very strong local opposition, Farnborough
was granted outline planning permission.

On Wednesday 5 February 2003, Farnborough was officially opened,
even though it lacks full planning consent.

The airport was officially opened by government minister John
Spellar, reading from a script that appeared to have been prepared
by TAG Aviation. He cited the œ140 million saving for busy
executives (figure plucked straight from TAG), no mention of the
costs, and the figure quoted is probably in any case bogus),
praised the state-of-the-art facilities, local concerns on
environment, noise etc, were respected and 'every effort is made
to maintain harmonious relations with the community' (massive
environmental damage, problems of noise, air pollution and
safety, the local community ignored, TAG refusing to even
establish an airfield consultative committee as legally obliged
under Section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act).

Roger McMullin, Geneva-based TAG chief executive, claimed
environmental improvements (massive environmental damage), that
TAG were 'meeting two important objectives of stated Government
Policy' (Halcrow, lead consultants for government on aviation in
the south east, have been appointed by Rushmoor to provide
'independent advice' in their final deliberations on the TAG
planning application).

John Marsh, Tory leader of Rushmoor and BAE Systems employee,
claimed it was a great day for Farnborough and the people of
Rushmoor (wanted like a hole in the head), Andrew Lloyd, Rushmoor
chief executive, welcomed the fact the airport now had a CAA
licence (Rushmoor is allegedly the impartial planning authority),
Ann Bartaby, TAG director, claimed she had never seen a council
deal as thoroughly with a planning application and there had been
widespread consultation (the local community have been ignored and
TAG granted everything they asked for).

Also present were: several Rushmoor councillors, local MP Gerald
Howarth, assorted TAG directors, college principal Christine Davis,
assorted business types, arms dealers, even Mansour Ojjeh and
Aziz Ojjeh, Saudi owners of TAG, made an appearance.

Monday 10 February, Rushmoor planning committee meets to consider
the final phase of planning consent. From past experience, the
result is a foregone conclusion.

References

Simon Coughlin, Airfield: TAG takes control, Farnborough News, 7
February 2003

Keith Parkins, Objections to TAG Planning Application
(Farnborough Airfield), September 2000

Keith Parkins, Globalisation - the role of corporations,
September 2000

Keith Parkins, Air show, arms fair or corporate gateway to
Europe?, Corporate Watch newsletter, June-July 2002

Keith Parkins, Air show, arms fair or corporate gateway to
Europe?, Corporate Watch news, 9 July 2002

Keith Parkins, TAG Aviation outline planning conditions 16 and
17, October 2002

Keith Parkins, TAG Aviation Section 106 environmental monitoring
- movements and noise, October 2002

Keith Parkins, Farnborough Airport: ERM 'independent' report on
TAG risk contours, November 2002

Keith Parkins, Farnborough Airport - consultants 'gagged', UK
Indymedia, 4 November 2002

Keith Parkins, Big Business Jets In, Squall, 18 November 2002

Keith Parkins, Big Business Jets In, Red Pepper, December 2002

Keith Parkins, Farnborough Airport: Comments on planning agenda
and ERM supplementary report, December 2002

Keith Parkins, Farnborough Airport: Halcrow 'independent' advice,
UK Indymedia, 7 February 2003

Keith Parkins, The Al-QinetiQ Network, to be published

Keith Parkins, Planning for the people?, to be published

Keith Parkins & Peter Barnett, Farnborough Airport: A disaster
in-waiting, Green World, Winter 2000/1

Web

 http://bvej.freewebsites.com
 http://www.farnborough-airport.org.uk
 http://www.heureka.clara.net/surrey-hants
 http://www.heureka.clara.net/surrey-hants/tag-erm.htm