CLAIMS that Stansted airport could be in line for another runway have been described as "continuing speculation" by the Department for Transport.

The Independent has reported that the west Essex airport could get an additional runway as part of Government plans to expand airport capacity in southern England, and Stansted has been chosen because the surrounding area has a relatively sparse population.

The airport also has good links with London via the M11 and the Cambridge to Liverpool Street rail line.

The newspaper said new Transport Secretary Alistair Darling is due to publish a consultation document within the next few weeks and a final decision will be published in a White Paper at the end of the year.

The document will set out policy on the issue for the next 30 years.

Leading airport campaigner Norman Mead, who is also chairman of Great Hallingbury parish council and general secretary of the North West Essex and East Herts Preservation Association, believes expansion at Stansted would result in the "desecration of north west Essex and east Herts in the long run".

He added: " It's not so much from the runway and aircraft but the induced development that will go with it. It would be a criminal act if anything like this was approved for this part of the world.

"There's so much at stake in terms of our listed buildings, conservation areas, ancient parkland, protected hedgerows, and our ancient towns, like Bishop's Stortford, which are already overflown by aircraft.

"Our heritage would be totally desecrated and that's nothing short of criminal, not to mention the adverse effect it would have on the quality of life of tens of thousands of people."

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "All of this is continuing speculation and Stansted is an obvious target.

"The Government will be holding a consultation later this year about what should be done about the increased demand on air travel over the next 30 years and how much should be met and where."

June 13, 2002 15:30