Councils oppose Stansted runway bid

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Councils in Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire said they would "vigorously campaign" to stop a second runway being built at Stansted.

Airport owner BAA announced its latest expansion plans for the airport - near Chelmsford, Essex - last week.

Opponents said the proposals were "tantamount to a declaration of war on the local community and global environment".

Essex County Council, Hertfordshire County Council, Suffolk County Council, Braintree District Council, East Herts District Council and Uttlesford District Council said a second runway would put "unbearable strain" on local services.

Local politicians said they were forming a cross-party group called "Councils Opposing a 2nd Runway" (CO2) and called on the Government to "totally re-think" its aviation strategy.

"CO2 will be a powerful force that will campaign on behalf of local residents to oppose this unwanted and unnecessary runway and will take the fight directly to BAA and the government," said Essex County Council leader Lord Hanningfield.

"A new runway would put unbearable strain on our local services and infrastructure which are already at breaking point and it will of course cause huge environmental damage. The Government's aviation strategy needs a total rethink."

BAA has asked Uttlesford council - which covers the airport - for permission to build the new runway and a second terminal. But a final decision will almost certainly be made by ministers after a public inquiry.

If approved, the £2.5 billion development would open in 2015 and serve 68 million passengers a year by around 2030. BAA says the project will create more than 13,000 jobs by 2030 and boost the UK economy by £9 billion a year.