CONTROVERSIAL plans to expand Southampton Airport runway will be discussed in December.

After months of consultation and controversy, plans to expand the runway by 164m (538ft) will be considered on December 17.

The plans are also for the extension of the existing long stay car park to the east and west of Mitchell Way to provide an additional 600 spaces.

The proposals will be scrutinised at a special meeting of  the Eastleigh Local Area Committee.

The event will be held online using Microsoft Teams but further details are yet to be revealed.

In a statement Eastleigh Borough Council said: "A committee date to consider the planning application has been set for 17 December 2020. The public can view and participate in the meeting through either, making representation in person to the committee or having their statement read out by a member of staff."

The news comes as airport bosses recently submitted more details to the borough council.

These include the possibility for the authority to propose a maximum noise cap on the airport.

Airport managers said the noise mitigation measures exceed industry standards.

But as reported, campaigners said there is no justification for the plans to go ahead.

Yesterday, members of action group Airport Expansion Opposition (AXO) campaigned in the centre of Eastleigh to  voice their views on the proposals.

They fear that new government policy could mean that there would be no noise cap in the future.

The group had previously said they believe that the mitigation measures proposed are "inadequate".

But airport bosses had hit back saying the plans would provide "a positive control over noise that does not currently exist and which is above and beyond industry standards".

The plans sparked a heated debate among residents and councillors, with councils in Southampton and Winchester objecting to the scheme.

Airport bosses warned that the future of Southampton Airport and thousands of jobs will be hanging in the balance if the plans are refused.

The airport wants the existing runway extended to allow the use of planes such as the Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 - needed to reach holiday destinations in southern Europe.

Last month airport managing director Steve Szalay said if the plans were approved the airport would be able to welcome new airlines by 2022.

The number of passengers using the airport dropped by 89% this year, which Mr Szalay said was mainly down to the collapse of Flybe in March.

A public consultation on the scheme is ongoing and will close on November 15.