Councils oppose airport expansion

Stansted's owner BAA says expansion would help the economy

Councils representing millions of people in the East of England have joined together to oppose plans to double the size of Stansted Airport.

Six local authorities in Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire are to campaign to stop a second runway being built at the UK's third busiest airport.

Airport owner BAA announced its latest plans for the Essex airport last week - saying it would boost the economy.

But opponents believe the proposals would be environmentally disastrous.

Essex County Council, Hertfordshire County Council, Suffolk County Council, Braintree District Council, East Hertfordshire District Council and Uttlesford District Council said on Sunday a second runway would put "unbearable strain" on local services.

'Unnecessary runway'

Local politicians said they were forming a cross-party group called "Councils Opposing a 2nd Runway" (CO2) and called on the Government to "totally re-think" its aviation strategy.

Essex County Council leader Lord Hanningfield said: "CO2 will be a powerful force that will campaign on behalf of local residents to oppose this unwanted and unnecessary runway.

"A new runway would put unbearable strain on our local services and infrastructure which are already at breaking point."

Hertfordshire County Council leader Robert Gordon added: "Hertfordshire's residents are directly affected by the growth of air traffic at Stansted, Heathrow and Luton airports.

"In adding our weight to the opposition to a second runway at Stansted, we also seek to build a coalition of concerned councils to force a fundamental review of the Government's aviation strategy."

BAA has asked Uttlesford council - which covers the airport - for permission to build the new runway and a second terminal.

But a final decision will almost certainly be made by ministers after a public inquiry.

If approved, the £2.5bn development would open in 2015 and serve 68 million passengers a year by around 2030.

BAA says the project will create more than 13,000 jobs by 2030 and boost the UK economy by £9bn a year.