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Council gives go-ahead to massive stansted expansion
13 September 2002
Friends of the Earth has slammed Uttlesford District Council for allowing Stansted airport to be expanded by an extra 10 million passengers a year [1]. This will increase capacity at the Essex airport to 25 million passengers every year by 2010. Flights would rise to 245,000 from its current level of 165,000.
The Government is currently consulting on proposals to turn Stansted into one of the biggest airports in Europe.
Paul de Zylva, aviation campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:
"Residents around Stansted airport have been badly let down by their council. This massive increase in passenger numbers will have a terrible impact on local people. Uttlesford's decision is the thin end of the wedge and makes a mockery of the Government's current consultation on whether to expand airport capacity. BAA claims that expansion will be carried out in a sensitive way, but this is nonsense and they know it. You cannot expand airports and protect the countryside and quality of life at the same time."
Notes
1. Uttlesford District Council's decision, which was made yesterday (Thursday), has to be approved by the Government.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
