The airport is used by amateur flying clubs

Wolverhampton Business Airport has pulled out of a bid to expand the site at Halfpenny Green, Bobbington, which involved allowing planes carrying up to 50 business passengers to land there.

The airport is currently used by amateur flying clubs but the expansion plans would have seen it transformed into a busy city airport handling 1,000 passengers a day.

News that the application has now been withdrawn has been welcomed by local residents who opposed the plans.

'Devastate area'

South Staffordshire Council's planning department received more than 200 letters of objection to the application which was submitted by airport chairman Graham Hampson-Silk in April 2002.

Bill Meredith, the council's head of development and building control services, confirmed on Wednesday the bid to allow landing of jet aircraft at the airport had been withdrawn.

Susan Edmunds, one of the closest householders to the runway, said: "We are absolutely elated about it and when we heard, wondered if it was right.

"We are one of the closest homes to the runway and if this went ahead it would devastate the area and affect so many people's lives."