A PETITION calling on the planned expansion of Stansted Airport to be brought back before a council has been signed by more than 1,000 people.

Residents in the Stansted area set up the petition on Tuesday last week in an attempt to stop airport bosses getting final approval for their plan to expand facilities.

With more than 1,000 people adding their signatures in the first five days, the document has already exceeded the target of 50 needed to be brought before Uttlesford Council.

The petition will now be brought before councillors during an extraordinary meeting which will take place later this month.

Ahead of the meeting, campaign group Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) has called on the council to seriously consider the points made.

Deputy chairman Brian Ross said: “There is an overwhelming case for the Uttlesford District Council planning committee to have another look at this.

“It’s not only their legal entitlement but also their legal duty to do so.

“It is imperative that officers do not issue final approval to Stansted Airport before allowing the planning committee an opportunity to take stock of the situation.”

Stansted bosses are still waiting for their planning application to be fully approved due to a number of outstanding conditions which must be agreed with Uttlesford Council.

It is understood council officers are close to reaching an agreement and granting full planning permission, however this has not yet been confirmed.

The planned expansion of Stansted could see an extra 43 million passengers use the airport each year.

Outline planning permission for the major scheme was approved in November 2018.

SSE says the petition which will be presented to the council makes no judgement on whether the application should be approved or refused.

The group argues it is simply requesting the “correct procedure is followed” by referring the matter to the planning committee.

The extraordinary meeting where the petition will be presented takes place on Friday, June 28, at 4pm.

Members of the public are invited to attend the meeting.