HUNDREDS of worried residents voiced their concern about the expansion plans at Southend Airport.

The plans, by owners the Eddie Stobart group, would see more planes landing at the airport and the runway extended across Eastwoodbury Lane.

Many residents have expressed concerns about a massive increase in freight and cargo flights, but Alastair Welch, airport managing director, said this would not be the case.

Speaking to the 215 people at the meeting in the Leigh Community Centre, he said: “We have an organisation that is committed to investing in the airport and the business plan we have is very driven by passenger numbers.

“It is not cargo. It is not freight. It is not trucks and it never will be.”

Families also raised concerns about night flights and Blenheim Primary School, being affected by air and noise pollution from the airport.

But Mr Welch said the runway extension would mean take offs and landings would be more gradual, using less fuel and they would be quieter.

Last month, Southend Council leader Nigel Holdcroft revealed new measures put in place to limit night flights in a bid to allay fears.

Leigh councillor Alan Crystall also attended the meeting, thereby forfeiting his right to take part in planning meetings about the expansion.

Mr Crystall said he had done it to make make his view clear.

He said: “I want to publicly oppose the proposal to extend the airport runway.”

The panel at the meeting consisted of Mr Welch, planning consultant Rob Matthews, council leader Nigel Holdcroft, Southend Council’s corporate director for tourism Andrew Lewis and Denis Walker press officer for the campaign group Stop Airport Extension Now.

l Rochford District Council’s development control committee will not have a say in the design of the new control tower at Southend Airport.

The tower is automatically permitted under Government regulations and there is no limit on the size of such buildings.