Harpenden Town Council has submitted its views against proposals to expand Luton Airport by double its size.

At a meeting on Wednesday the town council agreed their submission to Luton Borough Council and stressed concerns on behalf of Harpenden residents including aircraft noise, road and rail congestion and more night flights.

Town Mayor, Councillor Nicola Linacre said: "The operator argues that aircraft fleet modernisation will mitigate the noise from more flights yet easyJet is currently modernising its fleet with larger, more powerful and noisier aircraft.

"If we don’t have quieter planes, then extra growth in aircraft movements and passenger numbers shouldn’t be allowed."

In its submission, the town council also proposed setting limits to restrict any further expansion in night flights, between 11.30pm and 6am.

Luton Borough Council’s application would see 18 million passengers pass through the airport every year.

Chairman of the council’s airport working group David Williams said: "There is simply is no reasonable justification for scheduled short haul aircraft movements at night such as an easyJet flight that arrives from Ibiza at 2.20am.

"Luton cannot be allowed to become London’s low cost airline night flight airport of choice.

"As the operator’s priority is to grow the daytime, scheduled and charter business, the town council has argued that it should halt night time freight flights that are a peripheral part of its business and a major source of disturbance and complaints."

To view the planning application visit: www.eplan.luton.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=MF0KDNKG72000