SOUTHEND Airport protest group leader Kiti Theobald has claimed tough restrictions proposed to control night flying from an extended runway would do nothing to protect residents.

Ms Theobald chairs Stop Airport Extension Now, the group set up to oppose the extension of the airport’s runway proposed by operator the Stobart Group.

She claimed: “The permitted reductions, from 900 flights to 120 a month, at night have missed the numerous exceptions for certain aircraft, including jets and helicopter, which will be able to take off and land without counting towards the monthly quota of 120 flights.”

Ms Theobald added: “Effectively, the airport has been given carte blanche to fly as many flights as it wants at night, provided it uses particular models of aircraft.”

Airport managing director Alastair Welch said he could not understand where Ms Theobald got her information.

He added: “I wonder if Ms Theobald has read the agreement at all.

“The agreement makes it quite clear there will only be aircraft which are much quieter than they have been in the past from the airport. The only time jets or helicopters would be used from the airport would be if it was for an emergency flight, which has to be fair.

“I have offered to meet Ms Theobald on a number of occasions but she had not responded.”