We live under the flight path and are of course naturally very concerned about noise, safety and impact on the environment.

None of these proposed new flights are necessary. The jobs may or may not come and we realise they are a very real potential benefit. However, 40 000 people probably live under the flight path or in the affected area. Why should an expansion go ahead which will materially prejudice the quality of life of so many, in the homes they work hard for 52 weeks a year, to allow people, most of whom do not live under the flight path, to have another option as to where they jet off for their long weekends or two weeks in the sun from, or to allow a particular haulier to slightly increase its turnover?

Southend airport is a historical anomaly. Set in a residential area as it is it is completely inappropriate to be proposing passenger numbers of two million per year.

We would rather this did not go ahead but sense that the consultation is a fait accompli, accordingly we stress the importance of effective noise control and hope we can trust our councils to deliver it.