PLANS to build an airport in the Thames Estuary will pour untold pressure on housing in Gravesham if they go ahead.

Gravesham Council leader Councillor John Burden expressed his concerns after the newly reelected Mayor of London Boris Johnson reiterated calls for the government to build a new hub airport in the estuary.

The development, estimated to cost £50bn, would see up to 40,000 people being rehomed with no suggestion as to where this would be.

Cllr Burden said: "It alarms many people and it's not very clear on the opportunities it's allegedly meant to provide to people.

"We need to build on our current skill base and not decimate an area with 20,000 to 40,000 households."

He added: "It's an ill conceived idea and hasn't been thought through for the implications on local people.

"It will effect Gravesham in the issues of people having to be moved. All those people have got to be moved somewhere. There will be pressure on housing numbers and pressure on transport."

A report by Kent County Council, Bold Steps for Aviation, suggests the issue of immediate aviation capacity would not be addressed as the project would take 10 to 15 years to complete.

Other key concerns include the cost of the project and the need to rehome up to 40,000 people.

It also claims the estuary airport would be situated in an area of international environmental importance with the highest risk of bird strike in the UK.

Leader of KCC, Councillor Paul Carter, said: "We remain opposed to any airport located within the Thames Estuary.

"As an alternative to building a new multi-runway hub airport in the Thames or on the Isle of Grain, we want to see an intelligent solution that involves maximising the potential around estuaries and ports in the southern half of this country."

John Stewart, chairman of HACAN Clear Skies, which campaigns against aircraft noise, said: "The estuary airport would have a huge impact on Gravesham. They haven’t really been very honest about the noise impact and where the flight paths would go.

"It’s true flights would come in over the sea but to be quite honest if they come in over sea they would have to take off over land.

"Places like Gravesham are potentially going to be under flight paths. They are potentially going to be living under a sky of sound.

"What we are calling for is noise contours to be openly and publicly available so people will know where noise will be a problem."

You can have your say about the proposals at Gravesham East Neighbourhood forum tomorrow (May 15), from 7pm at Thamesview School, in Thong Lane, Gravesend.

Kent County Council's recommendations

:: The construction of a high speed rail link connecting Gatwick and Heathrow.

:: A more strategic approach to the use of our airports, maximising the capacity of Manston Airport in Kent and existing airports in the south east.

:: The construction of high speed rail links connecting Manston Airport and other regional airports to London.

:: Capacity growth at Gatwick through the addition of a second runway after 2019.