Stansted -Airport expansion plan probe begins

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Source: Daily Mail

Airport expansion plan probe begins
Last updated at 06:30am on 30th May 2007

A public inquiry on plans to expand Stansted Airport is set to begin.

Operator BAA wants to increase passenger numbers to 35 million per year by extending the Essex airport's runway.

Uttlesford District Council rejected the BAA planning application in November.

Now the matter will be heard by planning inspector Alan Boyland after BAA appealed against the council's ruling.

Representatives of the Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) campaign group are expected to protest against the plans before Wednesday's inquiry.

BAA wants to remove a planning condition that limits the number of passengers it can serve to 25 million and increase it to 35 million.

It also wants permission to increase the number of air traffic movements permitted from the airport from 241,000 to 264,000 a year.