RESIDENTS' groups and MPs in Hampshire have warned that controversial expansion plans for Southampton airport would be unsustainable with the growing threat of climate change.

Today bosses at the airport unveiled their final version of expansion plans for the airport over the next 25 years.

The report predicts that passenger numbers will soar from 1.84 million in 2005 to around six million by 2030 - an annual growth rate of 4.8 per cent.

Take-offs and landings by aircraft are expected to rise from 43,900 in 2005 to 96,300 over the next 25 years - an annual growth rate of 2.5 per cent.

Bosses have not ruled out building a second terminal in the north-east zone, although they have pledged that the airport in Eastleigh will expand within its existing boundaries.

They emphasised there were never plans for a second runway. There are also no plans to extend flying hours from the airport.

Currently, the airport employs more than 1,200 people contributing around £86m to the local economy each year.

However, by 2030, airport chiefs predict that around 4,000 people will be employed at the airport - contributing around £260m a year to the local economy.

The draft master plan was first unveiled to the public in July last year.

Forecasts for economic and passenger growth remain unchanged since then but airport chiefs say they have incorporated into the plan measures to combat noise and pollution threats following public consultation.

In the report, they say they will be encouraging the use of quieter aircraft and will increase the use of public transport to and from the airport to mitigate the effects of greenhouse gases. The airport plans to buy mobile noise monitors to check surrounding residential areas.

However, the report has been condemned by residents groups living near the airport who say that their concerns about the planned expansion have not been addressed.

Mary Finch chairman of the airport pressure group and spokesman for Bitterne Park Residents' Association said: "The huge expansion planned is too big for this small airport bearing in mind the closeness of the airport to residential areas.

"Passenger numbers rising from 1.8 million to six million is too much. The airport has not given us a thing. Nothing has changed at all.

"I think an awful lot of people are going to be very angry over this. They have taken nothing into consideration. The airport will be putting into the environment an awful lot of pollution."

Southampton City Council leader Councillor Adrian Vinson said: "It remains my view that while the airport remains a major asset to the region, its focus should be more on business needs for the area and less on leisure."

Southampton Itchen MP John Denham told the Daily Echo that he had not looked at the report in detail but his impression from the summary was that nothing much had changed from the draft plans produced in July last year.

He said: "They are looking at more than doubling the number of flights and trebling passengers.

"At the end of the runway, there are between 10,000 and 15,000 people living. The starting point has to be whether the quality of their lives will improve and not get worse and that is a non-negotiable position.

"Also, it is very difficult to see how the growth that is projected up to 2030 is going to be deliverable with climate change.

"There is a real question mark about other projections in the report of jobs and economic benefits - as well as the constant growth in the number of flights."

An airport spokesman said: "Southampton Airport has published its master plan for the next 25 years in response to the government 2003 White Paper.

"Publication of the master plan follows a constructive programme of public consultation with many people and organisations across Hampshire.

"Feedback identified four main themes that need to be addressed as the airport grows. These include noise, climate change, air quality and service access.

"These have been discussed in detail in the document and relevant strategies have been developed to manage the impacts."