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Legal battle for airport begins Legal battle for airport begins
(2 days later)
Conservationists have started legal proceedings in a bid to halt proposals for a commercial airport in Snowdonia.Conservationists have started legal proceedings in a bid to halt proposals for a commercial airport in Snowdonia.
The Snowdonia Society has written to the Welsh Assembly Government setting out a proposed claim for judicial review.The Snowdonia Society has written to the Welsh Assembly Government setting out a proposed claim for judicial review.
The dispute centres on a 125-year lease for a former military airfield at Llanbedr, near Harlech in Gwynedd. The dispute centres on a 125-year lease for a former military airfield at Llanbedr, near Harlech, Gwynedd.
However, the new operators, Kemble Air Services, insist the deal will go ahead despite a potential High Court hearing. However, new operators Kemble Air Services insist the deal will go ahead despite a potential High Court hearing.
"There's no question of us pulling out because of a threat from an unelected body," said David Young from the air operators. "There's no question of us pulling out because of a threat from an unelected body," said David Young of the air operators.
"I've been to Llanbedr this week with two of our other directors. We had an overwhelmingly positive response from everyone we met. There's a huge amount of goodwill.""I've been to Llanbedr this week with two of our other directors. We had an overwhelmingly positive response from everyone we met. There's a huge amount of goodwill."
The society has been attempting to seek confirmation that Welsh ministers have acted lawfully David Firth, Snowdonia SocietyThe society has been attempting to seek confirmation that Welsh ministers have acted lawfully David Firth, Snowdonia Society
Legal action was first threatened by the new director of the Snowdonia Society, the former assembly government culture minister, Alun Pugh. Legal action was first threatened by the new director of the Snowdonia Society, former assembly government culture minister Alun Pugh.
He argued that evidence to show that leasing the site met special planning requirements for national parks such as Snowdonia had not be produced. He argued that evidence to show that leasing the site met special planning requirements for national parks such as Snowdonia had not been produced.
In a letter to the assembly government's Counsel General, Carwyn Jones, the chairman of the society, David Firth spelt out why it intends pursuing legal action. In a letter to assembly government Counsel General Carwyn Jones, the chairman of the society David Firth spelt out why it intends pursuing legal action.
"Since 3 March, the society has been attempting to seek confirmation that Welsh ministers have acted lawfully by several freedom of information act requests to see evidence," he states. "Since 3 March, the society has been attempting to seek confirmation that Welsh ministers have acted lawfully by several freedom of information act requests to see evidence," he stated.
"This information has not been supplied.""This information has not been supplied."
Opponents to the airport development claim it will harm the environment and deter tourism in the areaOpponents to the airport development claim it will harm the environment and deter tourism in the area
PetitionPetition
However, the assembly government has previously insisted that the development is simply a continuation of flying at the site.However, the assembly government has previously insisted that the development is simply a continuation of flying at the site.
The airport also has the backing of many local residents who handed a 1,000 name petition to their assembly member, Lord Elis-Thomas on Friday. The airport also has the backing of many local residents, who handed a 1,000-name petition to their AM, Lord Elis-Thomas.
Gwynli Jones, a former community councillor from near Harlech, collected the signatures and claimed the air operations would benefit the area.Gwynli Jones, a former community councillor from near Harlech, collected the signatures and claimed the air operations would benefit the area.
"This place was run as an airfield from 1939 until it closed four years ago. If anything it is more noisy since it closed because now jets from Valley fly over," he said. "This place was run as an airfield from 1939 until it closed four years ago. If anything it is more noisy since it closed because now jets from [RAF] Valley fly over," he said.
"The whole area, from Barmouth to Porthmadog wants this, in the 1,000 people I asked to sign the petition, only one man refused." "The whole area from Barmouth to Porthmadog wants this. In the 1,000 people I asked to sign the petition, only one man refused."