AN airport boss is forging ahead with plans to expand Southend Airport, despite a legal challenge by campaigners.

Alastair Welch, the airport’s managing director, gave an update to the South Essex Area Forum about how work on the airport’s new terminal building, hotel, railway station and control tower is going.

The airport has also started building a new link road, which will run be between Eastwoodbury Lane and Nestuda Way, and will allow for the runway to be extended by 300m.

Southend Council faces two applications for a judicial review against its decision in January last year to approve the runway extension.

However, the council and airport have decided to push ahead with the new road even if a High Court judge blocks the extension plan.

John Anderson, chairman of Canvey Town Council, questioned Mr Welch about the campaign to stop the airport expansion going ahead.

He said: “There seems to be a vociferous anti-Southend Airport residents’ association which is putting up a pretty good fight.

“It is hoping to stop you and then this whole development would come to the end.

“Do you think this will come about and do you think there will be a delay?”

Mr Welch said the airport was moving forward regardless of the challenge. He said: “Any major piece of infrastructure is going to have those in favour and those who aren’t. We do a lot of polling in the area and consistently more than 90 per cent say they are in favour of it.

“The only challenge with the judicial review process is you have to apply for consent for a judicial review hearing.

“To apply, you have to demonstrate an argument. Meanwhile we are getting on with development.”

Southend Airport is carrying out a £35million investment program, which it hopes will generate 6,700 new jobs in the area.

The £3million control tower is due to be open in three weeks, and the £12million railway station will be up and running by the end of March.

The airport will employ its own station staff to help passengers to and from the airport.

The airport’s £10million, 129-bedroom hotel will be open in March 2012 and work on the new passenger terminal is already under way.