Stansted – Bigger than Heathrow?

Impacts on the Northern Braintree Parishes

A special meeting to mobilise action by those living in parishes in the northern part of the Braintree District and Suffolk borders will take place on Wednesday 21 May in Sible Hedingham to highlight the pressures faced by the community from the planning application for a second runway at Stansted.

The scale of expansion proposed for Stansted would make the airport bigger than Heathrow today in every sense – planes, passengers and land grab – and the impacts of its operations would be felt across the region. The district has already suffered a worsening of overflying in recent years, but an enlarged Stansted would put further pressures on the community and its infrastructure, particularly in terms of noise and visual intrusion.

Individual and parish responses to the plans will be essential in overturning the threat they pose and advice will be given at the meeting on how to make responses to the application by the 26 June deadline.
Chaired by Cllr Jo Beavis, the speakers at the meeting will be Cllr Nigel Harley (Braintree District Council) and Cllr Ashley Cooper (on behalf of the parish councils). The main presentation on the expansion proposals and advice on how to lodge objections will be made by Stop Stansted Expansion’s

Economics Adviser Brian Ross who is leading the campaign group’s response to the second runway planning application and preparations for the public inquiry which is expected to take place next year.

There will be plenty of time for questions.

The meeting is being hosted by Sible Hedingham Parish Council and is particularly relevant to people living in the northern part of the Braintree district covering some 20 parishes [see note to editors for full list] and Suffolk borders. Cheese and wine will be served on arrival and it would be helpful (although not essential) if those planning to come could reserve seats in advance by contacting clerk@siblehedinghampc.org.uk or 01787 462568.

Further information on the planning application is available at Stop Stansted Expansion’s website – see particularly the Second Runway Quick Links page or contact the SSE campaign office on 01279 870558 for its guidance leaflet.

NOTES

• Media are welcome to attend the meeting.
• Directions to the Village Hall: in Sible Hedingham, turn off Swan Street (at the Total Garage) into Alexandra Road then take the first turning on the right into Parkfields to the hall and car park.
• The meeting is open to all, but particular invitations have been issued to those in the following parishes: Gosfield, Sible Hedingham, Great Yeldham, Little Yeldham, Tilbury Juxta Clare, Ovington, Belchamp St Paul, Belchamp Otten, Belchamp Walter, Borley, Bulmer, Liston, Foxearth, Pentlow, Castle Hedingham, Lt Maplestead, Gt Maplestead, Gestingthorpe, Wickham St Paul.