A SENIOR councillor has been accused of scaremongering after claiming Southend Airport could be used as an asylum centre if it was forced to closed.

Tory cabinet member Mark Flewitt, responsible for social care, said he understood the centre was a "distinct possibility," if there was further opposition to the airport.

The claims were made in a special In Touch newsletter issued by Mr Flewitt to residents around the airport, in St Laurence Ward, which he represents.

He said: "I support the airport and want it to succeed, particularly with more commercial flights.

"The Lib Dems seem to be changing their minds about whether the airport should be allowed to expand or not. If the airport was forced to close there is no doubt in my mind it would become an asylum centre or a massive amount of affordable housing."

However, Carole Roast, Lib Dem councillor for St Laurence, said Mr Flewitt could be scaremongering unless certain councillors knew of proposals in the background, which had not been released to other members.

She said: "There is no smoke without fire and I am concerned. Even if the suggestions have no foundation, local residents will be worried by the possibility, particularly having been raised by a councillor who is a member of the ruling cabinet."

Yvette Cooper, the Government's housing and planning minister, declined to comment specifically on the airport while on a visit to Southend yesterday.

She said: "The whole of the transport infrastructure of the Thames Gateway is important to the Government."

Airport managing director Alastair Welch dismissed any question of the airport being closed.

He said: "The airport is growing and we have the first phase of the airport's development plan on schedule for the new hotel and railway station, as well as improvements to the existing terminal building.

"We plan shortly to announce further commercial flights from the airport next summer. The future is looking good for the airport and there is no question of it having to close."