The future of Essex airports will be the centre of discussion at tomorrow's meeting of Castle Point Council's planning committee.

Members will be asked to note Government plans to expand Stansted airport, but Labour opposition leader Dave Blackwell has vowed to do what he can to fight the proposals.

He said: "People keep saying we need more airports but the number of flights do not justify this expansion.

"I am against the expansion of Southend airport and Stansted airport.

"The only reason there are a large number of flights is because of all these cheap airlines."

"The Government needs to look at airports in the Midlands and in the north rather than expanding ones here in Essex."

An earlier proposal to build a new hub airport at Cliffe, just across the estuary from Canvey, was scrapped in December- much to the delight of islanders campaigning against the scheme.

Published Monday January 12, 2004

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