Rochford’s [Southend's¹] Tory councillors must think they are the bees knees.

Not only do they feel not able reveal the results of the so-called ballot asking residents what they wanted in relation to the extension of Southend Airport, but they also say only Tory members of the council can vote on the issue. What a stitch up that is!

I only hope someone who truly represents us will have the guts to stand up and insist voters have the right to a legal voice against airport takeover of our rights as individuals and still expect our undying support.

No one except its supporters, the minority, wants this monstrosity.

B R Rudlin
Richmond Drive
Rayleigh

^1. It is Southend and not Rochford Council that is making the decision on this planning application.

I strongly object to further development at Southend Airport.

It will add to road congestion, increase noise and air pollution, seriously impact on the lives of people under or close to the flightpath, and have a significant impact on property prices.

There will be increased costs for council taxpayers to pay compensation to homeowners, increased harmful emissions and increased council taxcharges to provide improved infrastructure to airport users.

All I can see is another prime example of poor, negligent service to residents from out-of-touch councillors in Rochford and Southend who appear to hold unrepresentative and questionable views on the type of development that can be acceptable, while failing to protect and guarantee an environment that is necessary to provide an acceptable quality of life.

Given the groundswell of opinion against development generated by the Mayor of London’s office and councils faced with applications for expanding Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick, I find it difficult to comprehend the fact that here we have two councils in south-east Essex publicly in favour of controversial development.

I can only hope voters exercise their right to remove any councillors found negligent in their duty of care regarding the interests of residents rather than pandering to the needs of environmentally ruinous planning applications such as that being proposed by organisations like the Stobart Group.

Kieran Kelly
Southend Road
Rochford

…Once again I have been amazed by the attitude of our elected councillors.

This time it is Lib Dem Mike Grimwade who is the representative of the area most affected by the airport’s expansion.

His attitude seems to be he will make his own mind up, notwithstanding what the majority of his voters think, and will then not tell us which way he has voted.

There can only be one reason for this – he is scared of being voted out of office. What a spineless approach. Stand up and be counted, Mr Grimwade.

I can understand this attitude from our council leader, Nigel Holdcroft, but I always thought the Liberals were better than this. Leigh ward’s Lib Dem Alan Crystall certainly is.

Tony Halls
Westborough Road
Westcliff