A NOISE consultation being carried out at Stansted Airport is using figures which understate the number of people affected by overflying, a campaign group has claimed. People are now being asked to submit their views on BAA Stansted s Noise Action Plan

A NOISE consultation being carried out at Stansted Airport is using figures which "understate" the number of people affected by overflying, a campaign group has claimed.

People are now being asked to submit their views on BAA Stansted's Noise Action Plan - the document which outlines how the airport will manage aircraft noise over the next five years.

However, Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) has said the figures used in the public consultation - which ends on October 2 - do not show the true extent of the airport's noise impact.

Noise spokesman for SSE Martin Peachy said: "BAA has published lower figures for the numbers of people exposed to aircraft noise than the official figures published independently by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), who carried out the 2006 noise mapping in accordance with the requirements of the EU Environmental Noise Directive."

He added that the conflicting data could "result in the public being misled as to how much they are affected".

Chairman of SSE Peter Sanders has written to environment secretary Hilary Ben asking him to intervene.

A spokesman for Stansted Airport said he was disappointed with the comments from SSE because it suggested they were "picking and choosing the numbers" when in fact they were following the guidance set out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

He added: "Noise action plans are now mandatory for airports, major roads and railways across the UK as part of EU and UK environmental regulations.

"Our consultation is prepared in line with the strict guidance as set down by Defra.

"We urge as many people as possible to take the time to respond to the consultation, and welcome the views of all members of the community, including those of SSE."

A Noise Action Plan is now mandatory for all UK airports which have more than 50,000 air traffic movements a year. A draft plan has already been written, but BAA said this will be revised after the public consultation ends.

To have your say on noise issues at Stansted Airport visit www.stanstedairport.com/noise

For more information from SSE visit their website at www.stopstanstedexpansion.com/noise.html