Stansted opposition voice
Updated on 30 May 2007
Opponents of the expansion of Stansted Airport today claimed the development would have a "catastrophic" impact on the environment.
Opening arguments were made as a planning inquiry to decide whether the Essex airport could increase its passenger capacity got under way.
Objectors - including the Stop Stansted Expansion campaign, local councils and the National Trust - presented their case calling for the plans to be thrown out.
But BAA, owners of Stansted Airport, said the expansion was essential to the economy and that some people wanted the benefits associated with aviation without having to live near a runway.
Michael Humphries QC, representing BAA, said: "As a generality it can be said people like the benefits that infrastructure brings but often do not like to be near to such infrastructure.
"People expect their lights to come on when they turn the switch on the wall but don't like living near power stations. They want their gas central heating to work in the winter but do not like living near gas storage or distribution facilities.
"The list goes on and includes road, rail and airport infrastructure."
During his opening address at the inquiry, held at the airport's Endeavour House, he said the plans to increase the number of passengers using the airport annually from 25 million to 35 million, and the air transport movements from 241,000 a year to 264,000 a year, were in line with Government policy.
He said it was not the function of the inquiry to "debate the merits of Government policy" and the White Paper on the issue had identified an "urgent need" for extra runway capacity in the South East.
Although recognising the impact of the development would be "acutely" felt in the local area, he said this had to be balanced against the national need.
He highlighted the Government's "clearly-expressed expectation that inquiry time should not be wasted on issues that have been settled".
He added: "BAA does not underestimate there is very genuine opposition to its plans and it accepts there will be impacts from the growth.
