The future growth in air travel is threatening to shatter the quality of life for thousands of residents in Essex.

According to a report released this week by the Campaign to Protect Rural England families living in Brentwood stand to be seriously affected by a new "holding stack" which could potentially be located above Chelmsford and increased use of routes over the town.

Essex County Council this week formally expressed its opposition to the expansion of Stansted and environmental campaigners are warning there are only 19 days left for residents, councils and other interested parties to make their voice heard in Whitehall.

Consultations on the Government's Air Transport White Paper, which will shape the industry for the next 30 years, comes to an end on June 30.

Brentwood Council leader, Cllr Vicky Cook, said: "For a long time the cross party view has been to try and lobby for a reduction in the amount of air traffic over our region. It is like spaghetti junction up there at times."

The Government predicts passenger numbers nationwide could rise from 180 million passengers a year in 2000 to 500 million in 2030.

The Government's options for expansion -including three new runways at Stansted - have been analysed by the CPRE's consultants TRL to assess their implications on future flight paths and holding stacks which regulate the flow of aircraft.

The research was undertaken for the CPRE by respected consultants TRL who have concluded that the South East and East of England face the biggest pressures for expansion.

The study predicts three new runways at Stansted would lead to a ten fold increase in the number of people affected by aviation noise and intrude into 153 square miles of mainly rural land - more than any other airport option in the country.

There are also likely to be more planes overhead at any one time with significant increases in the frequency of flights meaning that some flight paths, including those above Brentwood and district could see more than 60 planes an hour.

Lady Suzanne Walker, chairman of the Council for the Protection of Rural Essex, said: "No part of the county will be safe. We will all be getting a lot more noise."

The CPRE is urging people to submit their comments in writing to: The Department of Transport, Zone 1/28c Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, FREEPOST LON 17806, London SW1P 4YS by June 30.

Published Wednesday, June 11, 2003

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