STANSTED: Public enquiry over runway comes to end

2:03pm Thursday 18th October 2007

The Public Inquiry into the proposed expansion of Stansted's single runway finishes tomorrow-Friday October 19- when BAA's closing statement will be delivered.

The Inquiry began on May 30 following an appeal by BAA into the decision of Uttlesford District Council last November to refuse its application for unlimited numbers of passengers to use the airport, plus an increase in permitted flight numbers.

The session comes at the end of a week in which all the major participants have delivered their final submissions, and follows those made by the planning authority Uttlesford District Council, and campaign group Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE).

The inquiry inspector Alan Boyland will then prepare his report on proceedings and submit this by Christmas with a recommendation to the Secretaries of State for Communities and Local Government (Hazel Blears) and for Transport (Ruth Kelly) but the final Government decision will not be known for several months beyond that.