HALF a million flights a year using an expanded Stansted would “radically change” the character of Suffolk, it was claimed today.Campaigners putting together their evidence for a public inquiry say a second runway at the Essex airport would generate intolerable noise for those in the county living below flightpaths.

HALF a million flights a year using an expanded Stansted would “radically change” the character of Suffolk, it was claimed today.

Campaigners putting together their evidence for a public inquiry say a second runway at the Essex airport would generate intolerable noise for those in the county living below flightpaths.

The information from Stop Stansted Expansion echoes the deep concerns of the Evening Star's Air Fair campaign and those of the South Suffolk Air Traffic Action Group and Save Our Silence that the county's precious tranquillity is being ruined by jet planes and the worst is yet to come.

SSE campaign director Carol Barbone said the current proposals to change flightpaths and create new holding stacks between Hadleigh and Stowmarket and near Newmarket would be made much worse by further expansion of Stansted.

“Everyone concerned about noise and tranquillity issues should recognise the major threat that would be posed by a second runway at Stansted with some half a million flights a year using the airport,” she said.

“Such intensity of overflying would radically change the character of the region.”

SSE says air traffic maps submitted with the second runway application are virtually identical to current plans, so stacks would be used far more, and flightpaths differ only marginally from those being put forward by NATS for coming years.

“Yet many people in the area remain unaware that there is a bigger battle that needs to be fought to protect rural peace longer term, now revealed by campaigners working through the second runway application with a fine toothcomb,” said Mrs Barbone.

“As a result, a warning is being issued that those who would be affected by the NATS plans should also be aware of the need to make urgent representations on the second runway application by the September 26 deadline because of the impacts they could suffer if the plans are allowed to proceed.”

NATS has said airspace will have to be reviewed afresh if a second runway is permitted and it is too early to say what will happen.

Views on the second runway should be sent to Uttlesford District Council, London Road, Saffron Walden, CB11 4ER.

Are you annoyed by aircraft noise? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk