Southborough Town Council has announced it will be the next to join an action group against the expansion of Gatwick Airport.

The High Weald Councils Aviation Action Group is a collection of parish and town councils that are opposed to a second runway at Gatwick. Chaired by Richard Streatfield, it currently covers Chiddingstone, Hever, Leigh and Penshurst councils.

Mr Streatfield claims tourism business in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural beauty creates £1.6bn over a year and would be threatened by Gatwick expansion because of the impact on the environment.

However, Gatwick argue that a second runway would create thousands of jobs and promote economic growth and prosperity.

At a meeting last week, Southborough Town Council members voted that it should join the group in a bid to tackle the runway proposals, and address an increase in air traffic noise over west Kent.

Members of the public were previously invited to an open council meeting on Thursday, September 18 where KCC councillor Matthew Balfour discussed the authority's view on a second runway.

Many were outraged by the amount of planes flying low over their homes, and said something must be done to reduce the impact on the lives of people in the area.

At last week's meeting, council chairman Peter Oakford said: "We have been in correspondence with the aviation action group about an increase of air noise over Tunbridge Wells.

"At the meeting with Mr Balfour dozens of people turned up and expressed their anger about the flight paths. Some had photos of the planes, others had logs of how many planes went over their homes. The super runway into Gatwick comes straight over Tunbridge Wells.

"What we need to do is discuss whether councillors want to join the aviation action group and how we would work with it to help local people.

"The support of another council is extremely important as we need to address the concerns of people in west Kent. There is a lot of unease about the second runway at Gatwick" - Richard Streatfield

"Personally I think these problems will only get worse and something needs to be done."

After a vote, the council decided it will join the group, but will meet again to discuss who will attend on its behalf - with the possibility of a member of public being appointed as a representative.

Mr Streatfield said: "We are delighted that Southborough have decided to join the Group.

"The Councils now represented reflect the reasonable concerns of 30,000 residents of the High Weald about noise from Gatwick.

"We are all aware that because of recent changes made by air traffic control at Gatwick many residents have found the new levels of noise intolerable."

Southborough Town Council will decide on a representative at its next meeting.