AN MP has called for a public inquiry into Southend Airport’s expansion plans.
Southend Council is due to vote on January 20 on a planning application for proposals to redevelop the airport.
But David Amess, Tory MP for Southend West, wants the Government to bypass the council and call in the plans for an inquiry and a Whitehall decision.
He said: “It is increasingly clear many local residents will not feel satisfied their concerns have been listened to by an impartial party, unless a public inquiry is held.
“Ever since proposals were announced to expand Southend Airport, many constituents have contacted me on a whole range of issues concerning those plans.
“I have kept in regular contact with those constituents and I have raised many of these issues with the owner of the airport, the local authority and with ministers.”
A public inquiry, chaired by a planning inspector, could be called, in any case, if the council rejected the proposals and owner the Stobart Group appealed to the Secretary of State.
Leigh Town Council also recently voted to ask Go East, the Government office for the East of England, to call in the application for an inquiry.
The town council has objected in writing to Southend Council because it fears a lack of a limit on passenger numbers could see many of the airport’s current light aircraft flights swapped to make room for larger passenger jets.
The airport’s management argues the runway extension would allow larger, more modern planes to land and increase the capacity to carry up to two million passengers a year by 2020.
Under the proposals, flights in and out of the airport could increase from 42,000 a year to about 53,300.
Tags: David Amess MP