By Maria Zaccaro, Local Democracy Reporter

Updated The chair of the committee that last week rejected plans to expand the runway at Southampton Airport has stepped down.

 • Eastleigh committee says no to runway plans – but now decision goes to full council

Cllr Tina Campbell has stepped down from the controlling Liberal Democrat group in Eastleigh, and from her role as cabinet member for social policy at Eastleigh Borough Council (EBC)

She's now listed as an "independent" on EBC's website.

She described her decision as "an internal liberal democrat matter related to the leadership of the local party".

But Cllr Keith House, leader of the council, said Cllr Campbell "does not support taking the airport decision next week".

The news comes as last Thursday the Eastleigh Local Area Committee voted against the proposals to extend the runway at Southampton Airport by 164m.

As reported, five of the eight councillors on the committee – including Cllr Campbell – voted against the plans on the grounds of climate change and noise.

Following the vote it was then announced that the final decision will have to be taken by full council on April 8.

 

Eastleigh councillors have tonight rejected plans to expand #southamptonairport. The decision by the eight members of the local area committee saw 5 against 3 in favour, but will now go to full council, as the chair explained to councillors and 300 in the virtual public gallery pic.twitter.com/x1tK6YtWg2

— Peter Henley (@Peter_Henley) March 26, 2021

 

When asked the reasons behind her decision to stand down, Cllr Campbell said: "This is an internal liberal democrat matter related to the leadership of the local party which it would not be appropriate for me to comment on in public.  I would like to stress that I have full confidence in my former Lib Dem colleagues who work incredibly hard on behalf of the local community.  I will be participating in the meeting next week and I am keen to hear the views of all those taking part and I will take their comments into account when deciding how to vote at the end of the meeting."

Cllr House said: "Tina does not support taking the airport decision next week. The Council meeting has been called to take this decision and to remove uncertainty either way on this application.  We will have good debate next week and all of the issues can be properly discussed by all councillors."

He said Cllr Paul Bicknell and Cllr Tonia Craig will take over the Social Policy portfolio until the council annual general meeting later this year.

Subsequently, on April 1, Cllr Campbell tweeted: "it’s not just me, Cllr Tyson-Payne resigned yesterday." bitternepark.info was unable to immediately reach Cllr Tyson-Payne for comment.

 

It’s been a funny old day. It started with an unexpected appearance on Radio 4’s Today programme and finished with me stepping down from the Lib Dem’s. Never a dull moment in politics. Onwards & upwards as they say.

— Tina Campbell (@tinaattfb) March 30, 2021

 

Twitter thread with Cllr Campbell after the meeting: "Party loyalty has no place in this debate, not least because it’s a planning issue but also because of what’s at stake for local people, the airport & the planet".

"Just heard that @tinaattfb chair of ELAC has resigned the EBC Libdems following the airport meeting last week. Concerned that it the next decision will be a loyalty vote for Kieth House, rather than a vote on genuine material planning issues. pic.twitter.com/HsdaYRRfHe

— Cllr John Savage - SCC Councillor. (@savage1958) April 1, 2021

Twitter thread between Cllr Campbell and Cllr John Savage, Southampton City Council councillor.

 

Previously
Eastleigh committee says no to runway plans – but now decision goes to full council

In the news
BBC Radio 4 Today Programme segment on airport expansion on 30/3/21, including clips from Eastleigh meeting - from 1:23:47
Lib Dems: We're calling on the Conservative government to stop airport expansion - Feb 2020

Updated 1/4/21 with content from/links to subsequent tweets, and the link to the Today programme which mentioned government policy on airport expansion, and Southampton Airport specifically.