The government has not made a case for a new airport, or massive airport expansion in the south-east, it has been claimed.

The message from Chelmsford Borough Council to the government in response to consultation on the future of air transport in the region.

Proposals include up to three new runways at Stansted and a new airport at Cliffe in north Kent.

The council agreed at last Wednesday's (October 30) meeting to record its view that if there is a demand for a major new airport it should be located on an off-shore site - not necessarily in the south east.

On the proposals to expand Stansted, Liberal Democrat councillor Graham Pooley said, "The document fails to provide any information on where people working at the airport will live. There is no indication on how the projected increases in employment at Stansted will impact on the local labour markets."

It also failed to set out satisfactory proposals for expansion of public transport links to the airport and understated the level of noise nuisance on residents around the airport, and as far as Chelmsford.

Independent councillor Alan Dixon said that major growth was occurring at regional airports. Conservative group leader, Cllr Paul Hutchinson, added, " The case for an additional airport or vast expansion of existing airports has not been made."

On the scale of expansion proposed for Stansted a new town could be needed, he said.

Published Monday November 4, 2002

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