BAA wants to boost passenger capacity at Stansted airport

Their comments follow the announcement by Stansted's owner BAA of its detailed plans for the second runway on Friday.

Lord Hanningfield, leader of Essex County Council, said the runway was "Unwanted, unfundable and unnecessary".

But BAA says the plans will "deliver great value to the UK economy".

Lord Hanningfield made the statement on behalf of Essex County Council, Hertfordshire County Council, East Herts District Council and Uttlesford District Council.

"I am at a loss as to why BAA is continuing to propose this level of expansion," he said.

Good value

"The airlines that fly from Stansted do not want this expansion. As things stand it cannot be funded by a cross subsidy from other airports, and BAA should be under no illusion that local residents and their elected representatives will oppose this expansion tooth and nail."

Mike Clasper, BAA chief executive, said the new runway would help provide good value "to our airlines and to people using the airport".

He added: "We've also examined in great detail the environmental impacts of the project, in order to ensure that they are reduced as far as possible."

The plans for Stansted - which would more than double the airport's yearly passenger capacity to 50 million - are opposed by some airlines, which fear higher airport charges.