THE SOUTH East Wales Economic Forum has backed the development of a Severnside intercontinental airport on the Gwent Levels.

The forum has called for further environmental impact studies and traffic forecasts, but is convinced of the economic benefits after a study by aviation specialists Vulcan Associates.

The study claims that an intercontinental airport could transform the economy of South East Wales, helping to create up to 50,000 new jobs by 2034. It also claims it would make a major contribution to attaining the Assembly's economic targets for Wales.

The study said that even with reasonable expansion of the existing South East of England airports there would be a shortfall in capacity in the southern UK of between 50 million and 100 million passenger spaces per year.

Vulcan Associates' traffic forecasts indicated that a major airport could be successfully developed in South East Wales to meet the needs of passengers from Wales, South West England, the M4 corridor and the Midlands.

It also concluded that it would not impair Cardiff International Airport's development as a regional hub. The Forum is now making a written submission to the UK government calling on it to include consideration of South East Wales as part of its plans for future air transport provision in southern Britain.

It has also written to all AMs in South East Wales to seek their support for the proposal. The forum comprises representatives of all the Gwent and Glamorgan unitary authorities, CBI Wales, the WDA, Wales Tourist Board, ELWa, Wales TUC and Job Centre Plus.