A row over Liverpool John Lennon airport (JLA) continues as the future of its expansion is looking in doubt.
Back in 2018, JLA released a £100m plan for the future which would involve extending the existing terminal building as well as extending the runway and creating new hotels, restaurants and commercial space.
But campaign groups like Save Oglet Shore have long been concerned any growth of the airport may cause damage to the picturesque and nature-filled places that lie close by.
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On Wednesday evening, a full city council meeting heard parties on all sides express views that the Speke airport should not be allowed to grow in size.
But opinions appear to be divided right across the region as ECHO readers have their say.
One person said: "Liverpool shooting itself in the foot again as usual. Same old story year after year, decade after decade."
Another wrote: "This is our last chance to gain international status, support it or lose it."
A third added: "Doncaster has more flights to holiday destinations than us."
A fourth said: "Airports provide jobs that this city needs to grow. Decent links to the world. This council doesn’t want any of that.
"So while JLA stagnates, what are the greens going to do about all the cars, taxis and minibuses travelling over to Manchester for their holidays and trips?"
Supporters raised the fact an airport expansion would create much needed jobs and economical support as the city begins its post-pandemic recovery.
One ECHO reader said: "Let the airport grow in a regulated controlled manner and reap the benefits for all the people of Liverpool."
Another added: "Get it expanded, maybe get some bigger planes through the airport, will be great for the local economy."
A third said: "If you live in Speke, rented or bought, the airport has always been there. More terminals, more jobs. You live under a flight path anyway."
The Oglet Shore runs North West from Dungeon Lane, up to the Airport light gantry and almost to the earth mound that separates Speke Hall from the runway.
The Save Oglet Shore group says the airport expansion plans will see 'this beautiful area, with its woods, ponds and streams, home to bats, owls and many Red list, endangered farmland birds disappear under concrete."
A spokesperson previously said : "Within our plans, we put a particular focus on the measures that would be put in place to protect the areas around the Oglet Shore, with proposals within the Oglet area for a 50 hectare coastal reserve, with the potential for a Visitor Centre and the creation and management of habitats to maintain and improve the Estuary’s ecological and ornithological value, making the area more accessible and appealing to visitors than it is today."
At the council meeting on Wednesday evening, it was apparent the debate surrounding the airport's expansion is intensifying.
Green councillor Anna Key brought forward a motion which called for the council to move to block any further expansion of the airport and to withdraw all financial support from the airport.
In her motion, Cllr Key said: "We simply cannot plan for transitioning to a net zero carbon economy while also planning to expand the airport - it cannot be done."
Several Lib Dems and labour councillors also stated the facility should not grow and in the end, Labour moved a motion calling for a full report into the potential impacts of any airport expansion - which will come back to the council before a decision is made.
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