CAMPAIGNERS opposed to the expansion of Southend Airport have claimed two councils are ignoring the views of the public.

Rochford and Southend councils have backed large expansion at the airport and are currently consulting with the public about the plans.

But the pressure group Stop Airport Extension Now, claimed the responses to the consultation so far showed minimal support for the expansion.

Kiti Theobald, pressure group spokeswoman, said there was significant opposition mainly, but not exclusively, from the public. She added: “If Southend and Rochford councils are going to ignore the consultation, then why bother to do it?

“We are not anti-airport as some may suppose, but we are doing our best to protect those who live under or near the flight path from a potential environmental disaster.

“We also want to stop the councils from spending money on a seriously flawed consultation process, which does not have the best interests of the population at heart.”

The group is holding a public meeting on Wednesday at 8pm in the Eastwood Community Centre, Western Approaches.

However, Keith Hudson, Rochford district councillor responsible for planning, said there was a long way to go in gathering the public’s opinion and it was impossible to make judgments yet.

He said: “I cannot see how they can claim most people are against the expansion as this phase of the consultation isn’t even finished yet. In fact, it has been extended until April 9 to ensure everyone has an opportunity to comment.

“After that, there will be some time while all the answers are analysed, and only after that will there be further discussions by the councils before a decision is made.”