Transport Secretary Alastair Darling remains open-minded about the expansion of Stansted Airport,local MPs believe.
Saffron Walden MP, Sir Alan Haselhurst, and three other MPs opposed to the Government's Stansted expansion proposals, had their first official summit with the transport boss this week.
It was held little more than five weeks before the end of the consultation process.
The 50-minute meeting, convened at Sir Alan's request, took place in the minister's Commons office on Wednesday.
It came at the same time as claims by Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) that BAA has concocted 'a cunning plan' to create three-runway capacity on two new runways it wants at the airport.
After the meeting Sir Alan said: ''I am satisfied that Mr Darling is being objective, and I did not get the impression that he has made a prejudgement."
The group, which included Hertford and Stortford MP, Mark Prisk and Braintree MP, Alan Hurst, pressed Mr Darling for his views on an offshore solution.
He told them he was in contact with the various offshore organisations, but stressed that they had to be convincing in detail and depth.
Published Thursday, May 22, 2003
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