I read with interest the article reporting the opinions of Mick Thwaites concerning the proposals to expand Southend Airport (Nov 13).

I feel I should point out some facts that appear to have escaped his notice.

A traffic census was conducted as part of the statutory environmental impact study undertaken by the council earlier this year.

It concluded that traffic in Nestuda Way would be considerably increased by the proposed changes to the roads the airport expansion would require, and that Nestuda Way was already heavily congested.

These changes would most definitely not smooth out the journeys of the number 9 bus service to and from Shoebury and Rayleigh station.

Equally affected would be people travelling to their work on the St Laurence industrial site and the other similar sites to the west of the airport.

It is impossible to extend the airport’s runway without closing off the section of Eastwoodbury Lane, a public right of way, that passes directly across its end as shown in the photo graph that accompanied the article.

I note that this requirement to close part of a public right of way was omitted from the planning application made by the Stobart Group.

I am sure this omission is an oversight and will soon be rectified.

B J Free
Eastwoodbury Lane
Southend