IN NOVEMBER 2006 Uttlesford District Council refused planning permission for expansion of Stansted Airport and remains committed to resisting growth beyond the current 25 million passengers per annum cap. At that time, BAA proposed there should be no lim

IN NOVEMBER 2006 Uttlesford District Council refused planning permission for expansion of Stansted Airport and remains committed to resisting growth beyond the current 25 million passengers per annum cap.

At that time, BAA proposed there should be no limit on passengers.

Having lodged an appeal against UDC's decision, BAA has now unilaterally proposed a condition restricting the number of passengers to 'about 35 million per annum'.

Unfortunately this moving of the goalposts seems to be a habit with BAA: your readers will recall they refused to engage in public debate on their proposals last autumn.

Uttlesford's refusal was based on the damage that would be done by a 35 mppa (million passengers per annum) airport, which is why we do not believe BAA's concession of a cap changes the position - no expansion beyond 25 mppa is acceptable to this council.

This manoeuvre by BAA must not have the effect of limiting the thoroughness with which BAA's proposals are examined nor of stifling public debate.

We would like to reassure the public all the views presented to the council will be presented to the inquiry as the council's evidence.

Our demand is that the inquiry is a full and thorough examination of all the impacts of expansion on our community and on the wider world.

Cllr Mark Gayler, Leader of the Council and Leader of the LibDem Group

Cllr Jim Ketteridge, Leader of the Conservative Group

Cllr Elizabeth Godwin, Leader of the Independent Group Uttlesford

District Council