ANY plans to use the Llanwern steelworks site for an international airport will be resisted by Newport city council.

Although the council last week urged the Assembly to consider the concept of an airport in the area, it will not countenance any scheme that threatened the steelworks.

This assurance was given by council leader Sir Harry Jones yesterday. There is a plan on the table for land south of the works, put forward by a business consortium called the Severnside Inter-national Airport Company.

But there has also been speculation about land freed up by the ending of steelmaking at Llanwern this year and whether the rolling of imported steel slabs - the remainder of the Llanwern operation - was under threat.

Corus says it has finished its slimming operation in Britain and no other major changes are contemplated at its steel plants.

Some observers say this makes suggestions that an airport might be built on steelworks land both impracticable and irresponsible.

Last Friday, the city council's cabinet decided to ask the Assembly not to rule out the idea of an airport. But it did not specifically back the Severnside company's plan.

But council leader Sir Harry Jones said: "We would, however, have grave concerns about any proposal that involved closing the remaining steel processing facility that remains at Llanwern."

Glyn Jarvis, councillor for Bettws and arts and recreation cabinet member, said: "The issue has been around for too long.

"It's right and proper that it should be out in the open. We want to know whether the airport is a goer or not."

Fellow cabinet member for housing and adult services Eddie Burke said: "I want to know what the whole thing is about. There are still questions needing to be answered.

"How many runways are there going to be, will it be 24 hours, will the planes fly seven days a week?"

Marshfield councillor, and cabinet member for public affairs, Tony Boswell said: "What we're saying is we want the Welsh Assembly to look at it and consider it - urgently." If given the go-ahead, the £2 million venture would create more than 26,000 jobs.

The Assembly has already come out against the blueprint labelling it "long-term and speculative". It says a new international airport at Llanwern would spell closure for both Cardiff and Bristol Airports.

The city council wants the plans to be included in the government UK Air Transport White Paper.