News in brief

Stansted campaigns in planning victory

Congratulations to local campaigners working to stop the planned Stansted airport expansion. At a packed local planning meeting on 29 November, Uttlesford District Council voted unanimously against the plans of airport operator BAA, which would have seen an additional 80,000 flights per year. Speaking after the decision, Peter Sanders of the Stop Stansted Expansion campaign said, “BAA's plans would have had an appalling impact on this predominantly rural area, as well as generating the equivalent of an additional five million tonnes a year of carbon dioxide emissions at a time when tackling climate change is the most pressing issue facing the world today. BAA should now accept the decision of our democratically elected council to avoid a further period of uncertainty for local people. In so doing, BAA would also be showing respect for the environment - both locally and globally.”