THE composer responsible for the haunting Inspector Morse theme tune has sent out his own musical SOS against plans to expand Stansted Airport.Barrington Pheloung, who was also behind the music for Dalziel and Pascoe and more than 50 other works for television, film, ballet, dance and theatre, launched his new protest CD at his Essex studio near Stansted on Saturday.

By Sharon Asplin

THE composer responsible for the haunting Inspector Morse theme tune has sent out his own musical SOS against plans to expand Stansted Airport.

Barrington Pheloung, who was also behind the music for Dalziel and Pascoe and more than 50 other works for television, film, ballet, dance and theatre, launched his new protest CD at his Essex studio near Stansted on Saturday.

He was joined by six children from nearby Takeley School who feature on it.

Together with local mother Kim Blake, who wrote the lyrics, they performed live for the media at the studio in High Roding and outlined the story behind the song.

Called Voices of the Future, the song is, in effect, an SOS from Mr Pheloung, Ms Blake and local children to Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Transport, who has just restarted the consultation on expanding airports in the south-east to include Gatwick.

Mr Pheloung was inspired to make the music for the song after Ms Blake wrote a short poem about her children's fears about the expansion plans.

He said: "Like many thousands of others in the region, this village suffers the consequences of noise from low flying aircraft, including those that ignore the flight path.

"Aircraft noise destroys serenity – something which those living near to airport communities nationwide know only too well – and not just at Stansted.

"The situation is set to worsen considerably if the Government's plans go ahead, since they would mean a five-fold increase in the number of passengers flying to and from Stansted. Traffic and air pollution would also rise dramatically."

The campaigners say noise, pollution and urbanisation from airport expansion and related development threaten future generations of children and the chorus of the song appeals for a healthy environment for them.

It says: "We are your children, the voices of the future, Listen to us, hear what we say, We are your children, the voices of the future, Hear what we say, we say, No Way."

Mr Darling will be sent a copy of the CD, urging him to reconsider his expansion plans, which could include up to three new runways at Stansted.

The song was previewed back in September at Stop Stansted Expansion's 'Runway Ramble' protest and has now been produced on a CD, which contains two versions of the song, the second featuring Felsted School choir.

It will be sold both by mail order from Stop Stansted Expansion and through selected shops across the region, price £3 (plus £1 postage and packing for mail order).

Anyone wishing to order copies should contact Stop Stansted Expansion via the website

www.stopstanstedexpansion.com or call 01279 870558 for details of local stockists and mail order.