If Cliffe Airport is built, south Essex people may never see a starry sky again, warned a leading protester.

Joan Goddard, who heads the Kent campaigners, sounded her grim prediction while describing the operations of the proposed 24-hour airport at a protest meeting at the Paddocks, Canvey.

Protest - Canvey county councillor Ray Howard addresses the Paddocks meeting Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

She said: "Some people will only be 2,000 yards away from it. It will be lit up for 24 hours a day - permanent daylight - and, for miles around, people will never see a starry sky again."

At Cliffe, villages, churches and protected marshes would be concreted over.

Joan believes the controversial scheme tops the Government's preferred list of airports. It had already been backed by a leading town and country planner as well as the Confederation of British Industry.

More in today's Evening Echo.

Published Friday October 25, 2002

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