I confess to knowing nothing about airport safety parameters, but I do know Southend airport reasonably well.
I question why the CAA has made a ruling which leads to the ridiculous situation where a small church has to be removed or the airport closes.
I would think in view of the safety record to date at Southend that it will be easier for the CAA to rethink their ruling as applied to Southend than expect a planning committee to rule in favour of demolishing a 1000 year old bit of history.
Perhaps the letters should go to the CAA pointing out the safety risks in Southend disappearing from the training and bad weather diversion role it plays for SE England's GA.
I suspect that to realign the runway by 5 degrees would be too expensive, but at least that is within the airport's remit, and the costs of all the building work they propose can't be minimal.