Stansted expansion is essential, says Mole

The Labour MP Chris Mole has insisted there is a need for expansion to Stansted Airport to regenerate parts of the East of England region.

The Ipswich MP made his comments on BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme yesterday during a debate with the author Will Self who is leading a ramble through the ancient Hatfield Forest which finds itself at risk from any future expansion of the airport.

Mr Mole said: "Stansted is not just another London airport; it is also a major driver of economic activity in the East of England region.

"We have a number of high tech businesses seeking to compete globally that need access to international and preferably inter-continental flights which Stansted, certainly in its expanded form, will increasingly be able to deliver."

He added: "The demands of Stansted are more than [retail opportunity]. The potential it has to impact on the regeneration of some of our region's most deprived locations such as Harlow, Luton and Haverhill is critical.

"That is not just for the direct employment that would come from further development at Stansted Airport but from the inevitable clustered economic development that would come around the airport that we have seen in many similar places before."

Mr Mole concluded: "It is about getting the value from the added knowledge that we can get out of places like Cambridge into our businesses which have a global reputation, which is why Stansted is so important to our region."

Source: DeHavilland