This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/essex/6194346.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Airport plans set to be rejected Stansted expansion plan refused
(about 6 hours later)
Expansion plans which could boost the number of passengers using Stansted Airport are expected to be rejected by a council in Essex. Expansion plans for Stansted Airport which could boost the number of passengers have been rejected.
Uttlesford District Council planning officers have recommended that the BAA expansion application should be turned down, citing nine reasons for refusal. Uttlesford District Council turned down BAA's planning application to extend the existing runway.
The application is not connected to plans for a second runway. The airport operator wanted to increase passenger numbers to 35m a year.
Airport operator BAA said any refusal would not affect plans to build the second runway at Stansted. Councillors said they were concerned about the impact expansion would have on the local environment. BAA said it would appeal against the decision.
However, the decision could lead to an appeal by BAA which could, in turn, lead to a public inquiry that could delay the runway work. Second runway
'Good neighbour' Terry Morgan, Stansted Airport's managing director, said the issue would be decided at a public inquiry.
BAA wants to make further use of the existing runway which could increase the number of passengers handled by the airport. He said BAA still wanted to build a second runway at Stansted and would make an application next year.
Uttlesford's planning officers' reasons for recommending refusal include the impact it would have on noise, air quality, road and rail networks and local quality of life.Uttlesford's planning officers' reasons for recommending refusal include the impact it would have on noise, air quality, road and rail networks and local quality of life.
They said economic benefits have not been demonstrated to be strong enough to outweigh other factors. They said economic benefits had not been demonstrated to be strong enough to outweigh other factors.
Peter Sanders, chairman of Stop Stansted Expansion, said: "I very much hope BAA will respect the decision of our local, democratically-elected council.
"BAA keeps claiming that it listens to what local people say and that it wants to be a good neighbour working in partnership with the local community.
"If BAA is serious about this, it will not appeal the decision."
A second runway at Stansted was contained in the government's 2003 Aviation White Paper, a review of which is due from the Department for Transport before the end of this year.A second runway at Stansted was contained in the government's 2003 Aviation White Paper, a review of which is due from the Department for Transport before the end of this year.
Alastair McDermid, BAA director for Stansted Generation 2, said that an announcement could be expected in January on the outcome of a public consultation about the second runway development. Local residents who have formed a Stop Stansted Expansion campaign said they were "absolutely delighted" by the decision.