Southend Airport could provide the extra safety zones it needs to comply with Civil Aviation Authority regulations without moving St Laurence Church, an Eastwood councillor has claimed.
Tory Chris Walker was replying to claims made by airport director Roger Campbell that the controversial proposal to move the centuries old church was the "only choice" available.
He said: "This is culpably not true. The safety zones could be added at the Rochford end of the runway, but at the expense of putting the Southend Road and railway in tunnels and of buying out some residents.
"The railway tunnelling need disrupt the use of the line for no more than two days at the most, but the real problem is the cost."
Airport director Roger Campbell said an option to build a tunnel had been looked into but following investigations by engineers it had proved not viable.
Mr Campbell said: "The idea was suggested along with several other options but all were found to be not suitable. We spent time finding out if it could be done but to no avail."
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Published Tuesday December 18, 2001
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