SEVENOAKS District Council has joined the growing list of opponents to the proposed airport at Cliffe.

The council's cabinet admitted the plans could bring overall benefits to the economy, but said these were outweighed by the potential impact on the environment, housing and the transport infrastructure.

Parts of the Sevenoaks district, including Swanley, would be close to the airport's flight path.

SDC spokesman Chris Pyburn said: "Members felt the existing facilities offered at Manston and Lydd would be more suitable to support regeneration in east Kent than a new airport in the north of the county.

"There would also be an effect on the demand for affordable housing in the area which would inevitably pressurise the Green Belt." The increased congestion an airport would bring to Kent's motorways was also cited as a potential problem. Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon said it was vital councils in Kent stepped up their opposition after 70 local authorities came out in favour of the Cliffe proposals.

The Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group said Cliffe was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to solve the problems of airport expansion. Both Kent and Medway councils have now resigned from it.

Mr Fallon said: "To start with, I thought Cliffe was a stalking horse for Stansted. It now seems the proposal is being taken seriously and there is a very real danger.

"If there is going to be an airport in Kent it should be in the east of the county. We don't need it there are already three airports within an hour's drive."