Alarm bells are ringing at Essex County Council over plans to hugely increase the number of passengers using Stansted Airport to 25 million a year.

Today's figure is 11 million.

Councillors are warning the overcrowded Essex skies will come under even greater pressure if the plans by Stansted Airport Ltd go ahead.

Speaking just a year after the fatal Korean jet crash near the airport, the county council's cabinet member for airports, Cllr Ron Williams, told Wednesday's meeting of the executive board that he did not share the airport's view that the impact of such expansion would be limited.

"There are considerable consequences that flow from it," he said.

''We are increasingly concerned about aircraft movements, particularly having regard to the growth in freight traffic.

"We are highlighting concerns in terms of use of air space and of flight paths." Other concerns included noise and air pollution, he added.

Thaxted councillor John Whitehead said: "More aircraft will inevitably mean more noise. I am particularly concerned about the noise from taxiing aircraft and aircraft testing. I would like to see more sound barriers."

Cllr Williams added: "Clearly there are some benefits, for example, some employment prospects and some economic benefits for the region which should not be dismissed lightly."

The board is to tell the airport it cannot comment formally on the proposal until an application is submitted. But it wants officers to discuss its concerns with the company.

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