Heathrow ‘could get third runway’ a minister has indicated
14.7.2008 (BBC)
Heathrow Airport could get a third runway, a minister has indicated.
The government is due to make a decision on the future development of the UK’s
largest airport by the end of the year.
Business secretary John Hutton said at the Farnborough airshow that the government might take “difficult decisions
on airport expansion”.
Green groups have been opposed to plans to expand the west London airport, including
a proposed third runway.
Speaking at the opening of the airshow Mr Hutton said: “British businesses, and
ultimately the British people, would not forgive us if we shirked our responsibility
to do what’s right because we wanted an easy ride from green lobby groups.
 |  We will help make flying greener rather than restricting people’s opportunitiesto fly altogether  Business secretary John Hutton |
“Achieving a sustainable balance between economic, social and environmental concerns
is essential to the continued success of every business, in this new century.
“Because we understand the importance of air travel to the British economy, my
pledge to you (the aviation industry) is that we will continue to show leadership
and commitment in advancing the sustainable aviation agenda.
“We will help make flying greener rather than restricting people’s opportunities
to fly altogether.
“So we will take the difficult decisions on airport expansion to ensure the UK
has the transport infrastructure to continue to attract business from across the
globe.
“The aerospace industry must remain central to the British economy – and to our
future as a hi-tech manufacturing nation.”
Mr Hutton continued: “Ensuring air travel continues to flourish sustainably into
the future will mean tackling a new environmental and economic challenge arguably
as great as learning to fly for the first time.”
Economic effects
Councillor Edward Lister, leader of Wandsworth Council, who has been opposing the expansion plans said: “The government appears once
again to be pre-judging the outcome of the consultation on Heathrow expansion.
“One third of the people flying in to Heathrow are transfer passengers.
“What benefits do they bring to the economy? It’s time for an independent study
of the economic effects of expansion.
“The government’s only answer to the transport needs of this country appears
to be more runways and more flights which can only lead to more traffic congestion
on the ground and more pollution,” he said.
In its 2003 aviation White Paper, the government said it supported Heathrow’s
development subject to strict air quality and noise level targets being met and
as long as public transport access could be improved.
Operator BAA has said Heathrow is “jam-packed” and needs a third runway to remain
competitive globally, but environmentalists said the proposed expansion would
have a serious impact on hundreds of thousands of homes in the area.
Hutton signals go-ahead for Heathrow expansion
14.07.08 Evening Standard
the go-ahead for plans to expand Heathrow Airport.
a third runway, is expected by the end of the year.
decisions on airport expansion” and would make flying greener rather than restricting
flights.
at Heathrow, which would boost daily flight numbers, increase noise pollution
over London and involve the loss of homes.
businesses, and ultimately the British people, would not forgive us if we shirked
our responsibility to do what’s right because we wanted an easy ride from green
lobby groups.”
concerns is essential to the continued success of every business in this new century.
Because we understand the importance of air travel to the British economy, my
pledge to you [the aviation industry] is that we will continue to show leadership
and commitment in advancing the sustainable aviation agenda.
to fly altogether.
has the transport infrastructure to continue to attract business from across the
globe.”
– and to our future as a hi-tech manufacturing nation.”
slip what we knew all along: the consultation on a third runway at Heathrow is
a sham.
behaving more and more like a subsidiary of [Heathrow operator] BAA. This makes
a mockery of the Government’s carbon reduction targets.”
the minister’s comments, saying they would boost business. “UK plc will suffer
if we do not allow Heathrow to expand,” he said.
disturbed under the flightpath of all this increase in flight volume is “fully
compensated” accordingly i.e. rebate of council tax and/or annual noise nuisance
compensation etc.
After all, UK plc can afford it and this expense must now be viewed as a “business
acquisition cost” just like any other similar cost associated with gaining extra
business! No doubt it will be tax deductible in any case.
The fact that our New Labour government feel that they can inflict increasing
levels of “noise nuisance” on the public, tenants & home owners whenever they
want, without penalty, is quite ridiculous! So as it would appear that New Labour’s
“consultation on a third runway at Heathrow is a sham” what can be done to force
the resignations of all of those responsible?
– Fraser, Telford Park