A report critical of further expansion of one of the region's airports has been welcomed by South West Green Party.

Commissioned by Groundswell Cornwall, the report claims the business case for expanding Newquay Airport is flawed.

"The proposals to expand Newquay Airport fail to take account of what is now known about carbon emissions, the future of the air industry and the impacts of resource depletion (peak oil)," said Jon Lucas, transport spokesperson for South West Green Party.

"Like most counties in the south west, Cornwall does not need and can ill-afford a major airport - instead it needs massive improvements in the public transport infrastructure."

Currently Newquay Airport has been operating at a deficit of around £1million every year which is funded by the county council. In addition the airport is seeking investment to finance its expansion plans. But the number of companies using the airport has increased and is expected to in the future as more and more people use it.

The county council and many business see the airport as important to Cornwall despite the criticisms it attracts from some quarters.

The Green Party wants the Liberal Democrats, who control the county council "to explain publicly how they square their support for this proposal with their claimed concern for the environment."

South West Green Party has joined Groundswell Cornwall and the Campaign for Better Transport in calling for an immediate and full public debate on the issue of airport expansion both in Cornwall and the region.