PROPOSALS for a major international airport near Llanwern steelworks have met a mixed reaction.

As the Argus reported yesterday, the company behind the plan, Severnside International Airport, claims its £2 billion project could be up and running by 2010 if planning permission is granted.

It hopes to submit a plan following next summer's government white paper on how the UK can handle the increasing demand for air traffic.

The limited company says a major airport at the coast on the Severn estuary would generate a minimum of 10,000 jobs by 2015 and 25,000 by 2030. If indirect employment is taken into account, over 50,000 jobs would be created within the next 28 years, at all skill levels.

But Newport East AM John Griffiths said further development at Cardiff International Airport was a more likely option.

Mr Griffiths said the proposals raised "huge economic and environmental issues" and that he would wait for more details to come forward before making a considered judgement.

He added: "The UK government has been fairly dismissive of the idea of Severnside Airport in documentation they've issued on reviewing air transport in the UK. "So it doesn't seem like they believe the proposals are feasible or realistic."

And Llanwern ward councillor Steve Down said he found it "breathtaking" that Severnside International Airport could claim there would be minimal impact on the environment.

He said the Southern Distributor Road was currently being built to try to prevent Newport and the M4 becoming "completely clogged" and did not take into account the extra traffic an airport would bring.

He added that Newport council had asked the company for a business plan in 1998 and had yet to see it.

"This is not planes in the sky, but pie in the sky," he said. The company says it has not yet drawn up a business plan, but will submit a planning application next summer. Monmouthshire councillor Graham Powell called the plans "common sense".

He said there were 2,800 schoolchildren aged over 14 in the area and that they should be told about anyone opposing the opportunity of an airport creating jobs in about ten years time.

Councillor Powell advised the company to have regular meetings with the people of Newport.

Newport city council has said it would be "interested" in receiving more details. Carol Leslie, strategic director at the council, said although Newport could prosper without an airport, she felt one could assist the city.