PEOPLE living near Southampton Airport are waiting to learn if their latest attempt to block a controversial runway expansion plan will end in victory.
Barristers at London's Royal Courts of Justice have spent part of the week arguing over whether Eastleigh Borough Council was wrong to approve the multi-million-pound scheme.
The judge, Mr Justice Holgate, reserved judgement when the judicial review hearing ended today.
But he said a confidential draft of the document would be circulated to the QCs and their legal teams in the next few days. The final version would be released later.
Plans to build a 164m extension to the northern end of the runway were given the go-ahead last June after 20 hours of debate.
Much of today's court hearing was taken up with issues including the grounds on which the application was approved and the impact of the proposed development on the surrounding countryside.
READ MORE: Campaigners claim Southampton Airport expansion scheme was unlawfully approved
Part of the session centred on some of the advice given to councillors.
Paul Stinchcombe QC, representing the authority, addressed the question of whether members were influenced by fears the airport would shut if the scheme were rejected.
Mr Stinchcombe said a report to councillors "made no mention of closure".
He added: "There is no basis for any suggestion they failed to understand the advice they were given."
Other topics covered by barristers included the age and relevance of certain planning policies consulted by the authority during the decision-making process.
Expansion plans at airports elsewhere in the UK, including the proposed new runway at Heathrow, were also discussed along with the cumulative impact on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
The court also examined the issue of whether the scheme should have been "called in" by the Secretary of State.
READ MORE: Southampton Airport judicial review: How did we get here?
On the first day of the hearing lawyers representing Group Opposed to the Expansion of Southampton Airport (GOESA) claimed the council had acted unlawfully.
David Wolfe QC said objectors had a “legitimate expectation” that no vote would be taken until the government decided if a public inquiry should be held into the scheme.
But James Strachan QC, representing the airport, said there was “no basis” for any such suggestion.
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