Birds could spell the death knell for the proposed airport on the Thames Estuary at Cliffe, Kent.
A study for Transport Secretary Alistair Darling, carried out by the Central Science Laboratory and the British Trust for Ornithology, has revealed concerns that birds could crash into aircraft during flights.
The £11.5billion planned five-runway airport would have a considerable impact on south Essex. Castle Point Conservative MP Bob Spink said: "Cliffe Airport is now basically dead in the water and that is good news for us.
"However, it is bad news for the people of Stansted, as it now looks more likely Stansted Airport will be expanded."
Southend West Tory MP David Amess said: "I am delighted at this news but we cannot leave anything to chance. We have to keep on until we get a statement saying it has been abandoned."
Sir Teddy Taylor, Conservative MP for Rochford and Southend East, said: "The problem is we now have to expand either Gatwick or Stansted to meet the need for more flights.
"However, this news is good for Southend Airport, which was going to have to close if Cliffe was built. This could mean Southend might be able to continue."
Published Tuesday, April 8, 2003
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