Councillors are set to reinforce their stance against airport expansion in the wake of the Stansted air disaster.

A report on Braintree Council's position towards the airport has been requested by councillors, opposing expansion to beyond 15 million passengers a year.

The request was made several months before December's Korean Air cargo plane crash which left four dead.

Nearly nine million passengers currently use the airport but there is planning permission for a maximum of 15 million, set to be reached in 2007.

The council plans to join forces with neighbouring authorities if plans are drawn up to expand passenger numbers beyond the existing figure.

Green councillor James Abbott said he would encourage colleagues to rigorously oppose any future expansion.

Mr Abbott, who was one of the councillors to request the report, said: "It's pure coincidence that the crash has happened since.

"But it shows more than ever the need to make sure we don't continue to crowd our skies with aircraft because this is a danger.

"Although there has been no further proposals for expansion, we need to prepare ourselves just in case."

The council's head of forward planning Paul Munson said the Government had started a study on airport capacity in the South-East.

Mr Munson, author of the report, said: "So far there has been nothing put on the table but at the moment, the council's stance is to resist any further development at Stansted."

The report also covers wider issues such as transport links, including a Braintree to Stansted rail link, and problems with aircraft noise.

The report will be considered at Braintree Council's environment committee on Wednesday.

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