AIRPORT DASH TO EXPAND IGNORES DAMAGE TO ENVIRONMENT

Liberal Democrats in Uttlesford have accused Stansted Airport of ignoring the damage to the environment that their application to expand the use of the runway to accommodate 43m passengers per annum will cause.

"The airport already has permission for a 50% increase in the number of flights. Local residents know that a further increase in capacity at the airport will lead to more pressure on our roads especially Junction 8 on the M11, poorer air quality and noise pollution. The application doesn't sort out the night flight problem. Expansion of Stansted Airport cannot be described as environmentally sustainable," Cllr Martin Foley from Thaxted said.

Melvin Caton of Stansted Liberal Democrats said, "I don't understand why Stansted Airport has put in this application now when the Government are due to publish a national Aviation strategy this year. The application ignores the effect on demand for flights at Stansted by the Government's decision to have a third runway at Heathrow, the opening of the new Crossrail line from South Essex to Heathrow and the uncertainty caused by Brexit."

"Any decision to expand Stansted should be made as part of the national airports policy not by the District Council. After all, it is the Government that has agreed national targets for aviation emissions recommended by the Committee for Climate Change. Uttlesford residents need to know how expansion at Stansted impacts on our national and international Climate Change environmental commitments. Like Stop Stansted Expansion I think the planning application should be called in by the Secretary of State for decision," Melvin Caton added