Press Release - 29 September 2007

The 2008 Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) Community Calendar was launched this weekend in Broxted at the home of the Cousins family whose early 16th Century timber framed thatched cottage "Oakmeads" is featured on the cover of this year's edition.

With its reputation now well established, the calendar provides a powerful daily reminder of the communities, countryside and heritage threatened by expansion plans for the airport. It is also a vital part of SSE's fundraising programme. Sales last year raised a total of £27,000 for the campaign fighting fund.

The pages of the 13-month calendar feature seven Essex and Hertfordshire villages that have not previously appeared, bringing to 55 the number of places highlighted since the original 2003 edition. Once again, photos have been donated by amateur photographers, all of whom are active members of SSE. Priced at just £6, the calendar is being sold by 32 shops across Herts and Essex and by a 60-strong volunteer team, as well as through SSE's website.

Sarah and Andrew Cousins, who have restored Oakmeads from dereliction over the last 14 years, live less than 2 miles from the north east end of Stansted's runway and, like so many others in the region, would be severely affected by overflying aircraft if any further expansion of the airport went ahead. Their decision to move to Broxted 14 years ago, despite being so close to the airport, was strongly influenced by the unequivocal acceptance by the Government after the 1981-83 public inquiry that Stansted would not expand beyond 25 million passengers a year.

Said Andrew Cousins: "When we moved into Oakmeads it had been empty for well over a year. It was damp with very antiquated electrics, the most disgusting toilet you've ever seen. We even had a tree growing in the cupboard under the stairs and bindweed growing through the walls. It took a lot of hard work, time and money to bring it back to life. The garden was totally non-existent - just a field. It has been a labour of love to get it to its current state, adding flower beds and borders and our vegetable garden which we are very proud of," he continued.

His wife Sarah added: "We called Oakmeads our 'pine box job' as it was where we wanted to stay for the rest of our lives and no-one was going to change that. We still feel that way today - even more so as it is now our home and our children's home and that is how we intend it to stay."

The calendars can also be ordered for UK and overseas mailing at a small extra charge to cover postage and packing. For further information, details of sales points and online order forms see the Calendar page or call the SSE Campaign Office on 01279 870558.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS
Jpeg files of the Cousins family posing with copies of the calendar outside their home, plus copies of calendar cover and other featured photos are available on request.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Carol Barbone, Campaign Director, SSE: M 0777 552 3091, cbarbone@mxc.co.uk