Expansion of Stansted wins Hoon approval

The Government has been accused of reneging on its commitment to tackle climate change and ignoring local opinion after it stepped in to approve a major expansion of Stansted.

Green campaigners, residents' associations and local authorities have all reacted angrily to the decision, which could see the number of flights at Stansted rise by more than 20,000 from 241,000 flights to 264,000 a year, and 10 million more passengers. Noise pollution and environmental concerns had prompted Uttlesford District Council to reject the airport's expansion plans at the end of 2006.

However, Geoff Hoon, the Transport Secretary, and Hazel Blears, Communities Secretary, decided to allow the expansion after BAA, Stansted's operator, appealed against the decision. The move has prompted fears that the Government will back the construction of a second runway at Stansted. A public inquiry into plans for the new runway opens next year.

Only days ago, the Government's advisers on global warming, the independent Climate Change Committee, recommended aviation emissions be included in any future target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The Liberal Democrats said there was a "gaping void" between the Government's rhetoric on the environment and its actions.

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