OBJECTORS to proposals for a second runway at Stansted airport have less than two weeks to make their views known.Government has already decided a public inquiry will take place into the project, which would increase the size of the Essex airport to that of Heathrow and send tens of thousands more planes over Suffolk every year.
OBJECTORS to proposals for a second runway at Stansted airport have less than two weeks to make their views known.
Government has already decided a public inquiry will take place into the project, which would increase the size of the Essex airport to that of Heathrow and send tens of thousands more planes over Suffolk every year.
Uttlesford District Council needs to receive letters from people for or against the runway plan by September 26.
Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) campaign director Carol Barbone said: “Written representations will be key to ensuring that the inspector at the second runway public inquiry, due to start in April 2009, is aware of the overwhelming concern about the plans.”
A second runway would increase capacity at the airport to 68 million passengers a year by 2030.
There is growing concern over the current number of flights from the airport going over Suffolk - with more and more people living under flightpaths concerned about jet noise, proposals for changes to holding stacks, and future growth.
The public inquiry is expected to take around 12 months, with a final decision unlikely before 2011.
SSE has described the plans for a second runway as “madness” and is confident the plans will be soundly defeated - just as two previous inquiries and a Royal Commission in the past 40 years have all ruled out additional runways on environmental grounds.
Roger Pellman, BAA G2 (second runway) project director, said the company was looking forward to presenting its case in front of an independent inspector.
“There are huge social and economic benefits to be enjoyed from the development of a second runway at Stansted for the East of England, London and for UKplc, and we are fully committed to maximising these opportunities for millions of air travellers while at the same time doing all we can to limit, avoid and mitigate against any environmental impacts,” he said.
People with views about a second runway at Stansted should write to Director of Development, Uttlesford District Council, London Road, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 4ER or e-mail planning@uttlesford.gov.uk
Should Stansted be allowed to have another runway? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk
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