A COUNCIL of war - with Essex in charge - will combat second runway plans for Stansted Airport.
It was confirmed to hard-pressed Uttlesford District Council members on Tuesday that the county will lead a four-strong local authority team, squaring up to BAA at the G2 public inquiry, which is expected to begin at the end of this year and last up to 18 months.
Previously, cash-strapped UDC has borne the brunt of both costs and administration against airport expansion in its heartland - including a £436,038.50 bill for the inquiry into G1 project growth to 35m passengers a year, which was fought over six months last summer.
Together, Essex and Herts county councils and East Herts District Council agreed to contribute less than half - just £211,975.50 - to that fighting fund. By contrast, Uttlesford now has just £250,000 set aside for its share of the G2 campaign in 2008-09 and Essex will pick up the cheque first.
In a report to the latest meeting of UDC's Stansted Airport advisory panel, head of planning and housing strategy Roger Harborough told members that a special G2 group - with Essex at the helm - must be set up to oppose the 68m-passengers-per-annum plans.
"The joint working arrangement is essential to assemble the necessary resources to address the significant multiple aspects to the G2 proposals," he said.
Each of the four councils will appoint two members to a task force panel - including at least one of their most senior councillors - and together they will decide on strategies for legal advice, appointing consultants, expenditure priorities and how to liaise with other expansion opponents like SSE.
After the private meeting, Uttlesford's interim chief executive John Mitchell told the
Observer: "Essex will be taking the lion's share, and they will be using their resources and then bill the other councils.
"The county council was very supportive [over G1] and it's very helpful to have their resources now."
Essex may also have to dig deep to help bail out Uttlesford if BAA wins its bid for about £1m costs following the G1 hearing. Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly and Communities Secretary Hazel Blears are unlikely to announce a decision on growth to 35m passengers a year for at least a further month, after the airport operator admitted it made a mistake in air quality evidence.
In a further report to the panel, Mr Harborough said: "If BAA's claim were successful, the amount would need to be negotiated between the councils and BAA. Part of the claim was made against Essex and Herts county councils relating to their surface access evidence."
He warned that the district had "no contingency" reserve and could not afford a substantial award and that "very significant budget adjustments would need to be made", plus negotiations and a plea for time to pay, if BAA wins.
At the same Stansted Airport advisory panel meeting, members also considered changes to the flight paths over the district, proposed by NATS.
The councillors were particularly concerned about the easterly departures route, which currently swings round to the west after passing Broxted, over Widdington, Newport, Arkesden and Clavering.
It would then pass in a northerly direction over Wimbish and Sewards End before heading west immediately round the northern edge of Saffron Walden, over Littlebury, Strethall, Elmdon and Chrishall.
However, the majority of aircraft would have reached 4,000ft by the time they reached the population concentrated in the town.
The full council will decide on a formal response to the NATS consultation at a meeting on April 22.