Extinction Rebellion to protest through Wakefield over Leeds Bradford airport expansion plans

The socially distanced protest with gather in Millennium Square tomorrow, Saturday, August 29, in support of the Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport, who will be cycling a route around Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield to highlight areas that may be affected by noise pollision by aircrafts if the expansion plans are approved.

It comes after Leeds Bradford Airport bosses applied for planning permission to build a new, state-of-the-art £150million terminal by 2023, so they can increase passenger numbers from four million a year to seven million a year.

This isn't the first time Extinction Rebellion have protested over the plans. They have protested outside Leeds' Civic Hall and a public consulation meeting.

They say the proposal, which is still being considered by Leeds City Council, would increase carbon emissions.

In a statement earlier this year, Extinction Rebellion said: "Leeds City Council has declared a climate emergency and committed to make our city carbon neutral by 2030.

"Councillors should remember that the decisions we make in the next 10 years will determine the future of humanity over the next 10,000 years."

Airport bosses say the new £150 million terminal in Leeds will be one of the most environmentally efficient buildings in the world and they are looking to reduce emissions from airport operations (not including flights) to net zero by 2023.

However, campaigners claim this will lead to a sizeable increase in air and noise pollution, and Leeds City Council should not be supporting the expansion when it has declared a climate emergency.