CAMPAIGNERS are today planning to appeal after losing their battle to stop a 40 per cent increase in passengers using Stansted.High Court judge Sir Thayne Forbes decided government was right to approve plans to allow the airport's current runway to be used to its maximum.

CAMPAIGNERS are today planning to appeal after losing their battle to stop a 40 per cent increase in passengers using Stansted.

High Court judge Sir Thayne Forbes decided government was right to approve plans to allow the airport's current runway to be used to its maximum.

Stop Stansted Expansion had appealed to the court to quash the permission for a further ten million passengers a year on an extra 63 flights a day - most of them coming over Suffolk, parts of which are already plagued by jet noise.

After the case SSE said the judgement was confusing and the group was now seeking leave to appeal.

SSE accused government ministers of not taking into account carbon emissions from the extra flights, the economic impact, and the noise from planes suffered by people living below flightpaths.

Ministers said they had considered the issues but the urgent need for extra runway capacity outweighed them.

SSE campaign director Carol Barbone said: “This High Court action was never simply about winning or losing.

“Our primary concern was to ensure that our main battle against a second Stansted runway was not prejudiced by the wording of the original decision.

“However, today's ruling seems to make matters even less clear than they were before. That is why we are seeking leave to appeal.”

Stansted airport commercial and development director Nick Barton said: “We are very pleased with today's decision; it's the right decision, and one we fully expected.

“The social and economic case for G1 (maximum use of the current runway) remains strong, and our plans were endorsed by a full and independent public inquiry and a recommendation for approval by the planning inspector.

“As a result, this is a very good day for the millions of people who need and want to fly to visit their friends and family, go on well-earned holidays or travel on business.

“It's also great news for the thousands of people who work at the airport, and the countless number of businesses that depend on Stansted right across the region, especially given the current economic conditions we are all facing.”

Should Stansted be allowed to expand? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk