Stansted expansion plans 'a declaration of war'

Plans to double the size of the UK’s third busiest airport were described by campaigners today as “tantamount to a declaration of war”.

BAA wants to build a second terminal and runway at Stansted Airport in Essex.

If approved, the £2.5bn (€3.2bn) development would open in 2015 and serve 68 million passengers a year by around 2030.

Unveiling its planning application, BAA said the project would create more than 13,000 jobs by 2030 and boost the UK economy by £9bn (€11.7bn) a year.

But the proposals have met fierce opposition from environmental groups and local residents.

Carol Barbone, of the Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) campaign group, said: “BAA’s planning application for a second runway goes beyond environmental vandalism and is tantamount to a declaration of war on the local community and global environment.

“We pledge to use every means at its disposal to defeat these plans.”