Stop Stansted Expansion: “This is not the end of the road”

 

Imogen Bradick – Dunmow Broadast

 

Campaign group Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) has expressed “dismay and disappointment” in response to Uttlesford District Council’s decision to approve Stansted Airport’s expansion plans.

Stansted Airport secured planning approval from Uttlesford District Council yesterday (November 14) to expand airport capacity to 43 million passengers a year from 35 million.

SSE has said it will now submit further representations to the Secretary of State for the Department for Transport to call in the application. These further representations will include additional evidence relating to the nature and conduct of yesterday’s meeting, for which there is a complete audio recording.

SSE said it will also be discussing possible next steps with its legal advisers. However, it may not be necessary for any further legal steps to be taken by SSE. This to some extent depends on the High Court challenge which SSE is already pursuing in relation to this application. If this legal challenge succeeds, SSE said the approval granted yesterday by UDC would be overturned without the need for further legal proceedings.

SSE deputy chairman Brian Ross said: “Of course we are disappointed to lose the argument yesterday in such a shameful fashion, with the outcome ultimately resting on the chairman’s casting vote. It was especially galling when most of the councillors who voted in favour of approval made very little attempt to engage in the proceedings and showed little evidence of having done their homework.”