MP calls for council to back Southend Airport
25.07.09
Councillors should back the expansion of Southend Airport rather than worrying about political point-scoring, the Echo reports that MP James Duddridge told the Commons this week. Speaking in the adjournment debate, Mr Duddridge who represents Rochford and Southend East, said he had opposed the third runway at Heathrow and also the proposals for an airport in the Thames Estuary, known as Heathrow-on-Sea or Boris Island.
He said: 'However, I fully support the expansion of Southend Airport. That may appear contradictory, but the expansion of the current facilities at Southend would be very positive for the town and surrounding area. It would make Southend a successful regional airport with the capacity to serve one or two million passengers and so similar to Southampton.'
‘The town’s economy is heavily interwoven with tourism and a fully functioning passenger airport would provide a major boost. The airport already employs 1,300 people. Expansion would create at least another 1,000 jobs, but my gut feeling is that there would be a great deal more.’
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