Braintree councillors are calling for a halt to further expansion at Stansted Airport.

They are worried about urbanisation of the rural area and environmental consequences if flights at the airport go on increasing.

At an environment committee meeting on Wednesday councillors agreed they are firmly opposed to the expansion of the airport beyond the government approved figure of 15 million passengers a year.

Members voted for a recommendation that the council makes no change to its current policy in respect of the expansion of the airport beyond this figure.

They also supported the Stansted Airport Access Strategy proposals with a request that these should include reference to investigating the feasibility of a rail link from Braintree to Stansted.

Green Party councillors, Philip Hughes and James Abbott, together with Cllr Helen Pitchforth, had asked for a report on the airport.

Cllr Abbott commented: "I think it is extremely important and relevant. I asked for this before the very serious incident before Christmas.

''This accident could have been a lot more serious, hundreds of people could have been killed. I am totally in support of the recommendations in the report."

He voiced fears that people living in the area and the environment could suffer because of the noise and pollution that would be created by having more flights in and out of the airport.

In his report, Paul Munson, head of forward planning, said: "The development of Stansted airport has had significant economic and employment benefits for this district.

But he went on: "This report has noted the council's position with regard to limiting growth at Stansted airport to 15 million passengers per annum on environmental grounds and to prevent increasing urbanisation of the countryside."

Cllr Hughes said further expansion at the airport could be disastrous for the environment.

"The bigger the airport, the more jobs, and although I am definitely not against employment, this could mean even more houses are built in the area,'' he added.

''Traffic would also get much worse and noise pollution from aircraft would increase."

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