Airport expansion plans submitted

The scheme is being opposed by environmental groups

Plans for a £25m expansion of Carlisle Airport, which could see passenger flights to London operating by 2009, have been submitted.

Stobart Air wants to build a new runway, control tower and hangars, with a view to launching the airport's first commercial services.

The scheme is being opposed by environmental groups concerned over increased carbon emissions.

Carlisle City Council is now considering the planning application.

These short flights are immensely damaging in terms of climate change when compared to travelling by train Richard Dyer, Friends of the Earth

Airport owner, Andrew Tinkler, also wants to move his haulage firm Eddie Stobart and engineering company WA Developments to the site, with plans to develop an air freight terminal.

Richard Gordon, the airport's director, said Cumbria would lose out economically if the application was refused.

He said: "The only way we can make the airport pay is to bring these other businesses there.

"The loss would be huge both emotionally and economically for Cumbria and Carlisle if the application was refused."

Richard Dyer, aviation spokesperson for Friends of the Earth, questioned the demand for passenger flights over train journeys.

He said: "If you are flying into Stansted or Luton then you are talking about very similar journey times into the centre of London.

"These short flights are immensely damaging in terms of climate change when compared to travelling by train."

He added there was also local opposition to the expansion plan on the grounds of increased noise pollution.