LABOUR councillors have objected to the expansion of Southampton airport.

Southampton City Council leader Christopher Hammond has written a letter to planning bosses urging them to object to the plans to expand the airport’s runway by 164 metres and add 600 parking spaces to the long stay car park at the site.

It comes as tonight the Planning and Rights of Way Committee at the city council will scrutinise the plans in a special meeting set to be held at the civic centre at 6pm.

Southampton Airport had previously said there is a need for a longer runway and vowed to grow "sustainably and responsibly, sensitive to the needs of the local community".

But Cllr Hammond said that "at this time and with the application in its current form we would urge the committee to resolve to write to Eastleigh Borough Council asking it to reject the application. We would urge the committee to object to the expansion."

As reported, civic chiefs in Eastleigh will make the final decision on the proposals.

But planning bosses in the city will scrutinise the details of the planning application.

In his letter councillor Hammond states he is outlining the position of the Labour group at the city council.

But talking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service he stressed that "Southampton’s Planning Committee will independently decide the response of the council to Eastleigh’s consultation".

As previously reported, planning bosses in the city have recommended that the planning committee asks for further clarification on a number of aspects.

These include details on the impact the expansion would have on noise, local roads, trees and ecology.

An official report reads: "Further information is requested in relation to the benefits and dis-benefits and measures to mitigate against the impacts of the airport expansion.

"Without this additional information the council cannot be satisfied that this airport scheme maintains an appropriate balance between the benefits of aviation and its costs, particularly in relation to its contribution to climate change and noise."

At the end of last year campaigners presented city councillors with a petition signed by 1,900 people asking Southampton councillors to oppose the expansion of the airport.

Katherine Barbour, a member of action group AXO, said Councillor Hammond's letter is a "good start".

She added: "But they [the city council] are only a stakeholder. We are still very concerned that Eastleigh Borough Council might go in favour of it but it is a good start."

Southampton Airport had previously said there is a need for a longer runway and have defended its plans.

The airport expansion is expected to create 400 new jobs and boost financial investment from £160m a year to £275m.