THINK global and act local was the phrase ringing out at Stop Stansted Expansion s (SSE s) Community Conference on Sunday. More than 200 delegates attended the event at the Stansted Hilton and heard from speakers including Sir Alan Haselhurst MP, Uttlesfo

THINK global and act local was the phrase ringing out at Stop Stansted Expansion's (SSE's) Community Conference on Sunday.

More than 200 delegates attended the event at the Stansted Hilton and heard from speakers including Sir Alan Haselhurst MP, Uttlesford District Council (UDC) leader Mark Gayler and SSE's committee.

Campaign director Carol Barbone said: "The 'think global and act local' message was a powerful reference to the rapidly growing contribution of air travel to global climate change and the threat to the environment posed by BAA's plans for Stansted.

"The half-day event brought together community leaders and politicians from across the East of England, environmental groups and grassroots supporters who reaffirmed their determination to overturn plans for the expansion at Stansted Airport.

"Concerns about noise from increased over-flying and pressure on the region's creaking road and rail network remain key factors behind the overwhelming opposition to airport expansion plans."

SSE executive committee member Peter Riding spoke about the carbon emissions that would arise if full use of Stansted's single runway were to be permitted following the imminent Public Inquiry to be held after UDC rejected BAA's plans to lift the existing passenger cap of 25 million passengers using the airport per year in November.

"The equivalent of the seven million tonnes of carbon dioxide that would be produced by Stansted would eliminate all the savings from switching 350 million conventional light bulbs to low energy lighting, taking 2.3 million cars off the road, or turning off the power to 1.4 million homes," he said.

Saffron Walden's MP, Sir Alan Haselhurst told the hall: "BAA's propaganda would have us believe in some Utopia where Boeings and butterflies could joyously co-exist."

Deputy leader of Essex County Council, Cllr Peter Martin, said the council would support UDC at the Public Inquiry and congratulated SSE for their hard work.

Last week saw BAA unveil plans for a second runway and terminal to be built at Stansted Airport at a cost of £1.4 billion.