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About Us

What is GALBA?

The Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) is a group of concerned citizens in West Yorkshire. We come from a range of backgrounds and from across the political spectrum. We've come together to stop the proposed expansion of LBA for a number of reasons - see why oppose expansion?

On 10 March 2022, the Chief Exec of Leeds Bradford Airport announced he had withdrawn LBA’s expansion planning application. This is a victory for our climate and our communities and it was won by people power! But the fight isn't over yet. The airport’s owners have claimed that they can increase the number of day and night time flights even without their planning application being approved. We absolutely contest their claims so we’re keeping a close eye on what they try next.

 

Now GALBA is taking the government to court to challenge their dangerous Jet Zero strategy. This supports airport expansion across the country so it’s vital that our judicial review challenge stops that policy from being implemented. Read more about Jet Zero and our campaign here.

 

Please make a donation and join us today

Together we will continue to stop LBA expansion

We choose a safer, cleaner, greener and quieter future

We’re taking the government to court. Please help us raise £60,000 to fund our judicial review against the reckless Jet Zero strategy

 

Jet Zero allows a huge expansion of flying and airports. That means a massive increase in greenhouse gases, noise and air pollution. Please make a donation!

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What has GALBA been doing?

In 2019, LBA was given permission to expand its existing terminal building in order to increase passenger numbers. Then the Council proposed building a new road to the airport - right over greenbelt land. GALBA started in 2019 as an informal group of individuals who were concerned about these expansion proposals. We were alarmed then by the same issues as now - greenhouse gas emissions, noise, air pollution, greenbelt destruction, traffic congestion. We reached out to other like minded people and held public meetings. Then we were surprised to learn that LBA intended to make a fresh planning application to the Council. This gave us another chance to stop expansion - so we grabbed it with both hands!

 

When LBA submitted its ‘pre-application’ to the Council in January 2020, we joined with others to protest outside and inside Leeds Civic Hall. Then Covid and lockdown arrived so we had to adapt to campaigning in very unusual circumstances. We got more organised and established GALBA as a formal association in April 2020, not long before LBA submitted their full planning application in May. 

 

The Council approved LBA’s planning application – but we asked the Secretary of State to hold a public inquiry into LBA expansion. In January 2022, he agreed to ‘call in’ LBA’s plans and hold a public inquiry. Then in March 2022, LBA’s Chief Exec announced he had withdrawn the planning application! We’ve won a big battle but the fight goes on. We’re keeping a close eye on whatever LBA tries next so we still need your support! 

 

Who are GALBA?

GALBA’s supporters come from all over West Yorkshire and beyond, from all walks of life and from across the political spectrum. Our committee members all live in Leeds and Bradford. We are:

  • Chris Foren, Chair

  • Ian Coatman, Secretary

  • Pauline Bailey, Treasurer

  • Nick Hodgkinson, Membership Secretary

  • Nicky Ford

  • Victoria Smith

  • Manny McKenzie

  • Mike McGrath

  • Helen Pickering

  • Jess Fowle
     

No one is paid for their time in GALBA’s campaign - we are people power in action! Together we have stopped LBA expansion. We have chosen a safer, cleaner, greener and quieter future. Now we will stop Jet Zero too! Everyone on the committee is acting in a personal capacity, not as a representative of any other organisation.

Our constitution

You can read GALBA’s Constitution below.

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