Bristol Airport’s controversial expansion plans have been thrown out.

At a special meeting of North Somerset Council’s planning committee held this evening, councillors voted by a majority of 18 to seven against the airports proposals to expand their facilities in order to accommodate an additional two million passengers a year.

Cheers could be heard from the public gallery as the decision was made as anti expansion campaigners celebrated.

20 members of the public presented arguments for and against the expansion

Speaking on behalf of those objecting to the plans Lawyer Edward Remain said the airport could not justify the environmental impact the expansion would have on the area especially in light of recent steps taken by local councils to tackle climate change.

He said: “There are clear reasons for refusal on the basis of climate change.

“Any gains made by the council in tackling this would be trashed by this application.”

Bristol Airport CEO David Lees said the airport’s expansion would create 800 jobs and that the expansions benefits had not been overstated and that their extensive package of mitigating measures would ensure impact on nearby villages and the environment would be minimal.

In a letter to consultants @MartinJenkinsNZ’ lead consultant @JasonLeungWai2, Protect Wanaka raises nine separate areas of concern ✈️@QueenstownLakes @QAC https://t.co/xxWQdS4BVB via @CruxNZ #ClimateEmergency #Wanaka #wanakanz

— Protect Wanaka (@ProtectWanaka) February 10, 2020

The proposals would have seen more than 97,000 flights arriving and departing the airport a year, 23,800 flights more than in in 2017.

The plans submitted in December last year received more than 11,000 public comments, including 8,473 objections and 2,417 letters of support before the consultation closed on Thursday.

Ahead of the meeting council officers released a 175 page report recommending the expansion for approval.

However, the plans have faced stiff opposition from several groups including Stop Bristol Airport Expansion, Bristol Airport Action Network, and Extinction Rebellion who held three days of protest in the run up to today’s decision.

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EDITORIAL: 'We voted them in. We trusted them to represent us. They are democracy. But where are the elected councillors that we voted for five months ago?' @QueenstownLakes https://t.co/rs6QRaR0R6 via @CruxNZ

— Protect Wanaka (@ProtectWanaka) February 9, 2020