Stop Stansted Expansion to hold major Community Conference

Two hundred of the leading opponents of BAA’s expansion plans for Stansted will meet together at the end of the month at a special Community Conference to plan the next steps in the continuing campaign to prevent Stansted becoming another Heathrow.

Senior members of the Stop Stansted Expansion campaign team will report on progress to date and provide an outline of future plans for increasing the breadth and intensity of the campaign whatever the outcome of the Judicial Review of the Air Transport White Paper in the High Court.

The event will also encourage the development of new campaign initatives and greater participation from the campaign’s growing membership base amongst local residents.  Community volunteers who have been active in working to support the campaign will give practical advice on how people can become more closely involved and play an effective role.

The conference will also be an important opportunity for the many parish and local authority representatives who will be attending to receive a full status report on the campaign and to raise issues which concern their local communities.

The event, which is part sponsored by Uttlesford District Council, will take place at the Hilton Hotel, Stansted Airport on the afternoon of Sunday 30 January.  Cllr Alan Dean, Leader of Uttlesford District Council will provide the opening address.

Council leaders and community representatives from across the region have already signed up to attend, alongside scores of volunteers and campaign supporters who are playing an active role in their continued opposition to seeing Stansted become the world’s largest airport.  UK and European Members of Parliament including Sir Alan Haselhurst MP and Alan Hurst MP plus Christopher Beazley MEP and Geoffrey van Orden MEP have also accepted invitations to join the event.

Said SSE Chairman, Peter Sanders:  “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response to the conference and with limited places available we have tried to strike the right balance of delegates between elected community representatives at parish, district, county, national and European level and our grass roots membership.  The level of interest in this conference is a clear indication of the community’s resolve to prevent this local area being concreted over in the same way as has happened around Heathrow.  For the sake of future generations, BAA must be stopped.  It is significant that politicians of all parties and at all levels are working side by side with us to achieve this.”

Further information and a full programme can be obtained from Stop Stansted Expansion’s website at Coming Events or from the Campaign Office on 01279 870558.

ENDS