Lobbyists raise pressure on Heathrow
on ministers yesterday to give the go-ahead this week for a third runway and sixth
terminal at Heathrow.
to strict environmental conditions being met – BAA, the airport’s owner, and British
Airways, Heathrow’s biggest operator, say a third runway is unlikely to be in
operation before 2020.
last night, while Gordon Brown, prime minister, told a meeting of the parliamentary
Labour party he would meet MPs to address concerns over the controversial project.
More than 50 Labour backbenchers are opposed to a third runway but are not expected
to be given the chance to vote against it. Mr Brown told the PLP that the decision
was a difficult balancing act between the economy and the environment.
two runways first.
operations at Heathrow rather than adding flights. Some organisations, including
London First, say the punctuality of services should be brought into line with
other leading airports before airlines expand their networks.
to fly and will do so long after the current economic turmoil. A third runway
will be an asset to London and to the UK economy, if it comes with the right conditions
– no new flights until delays have fallen, a tough independent environmental monitor
and world-class customer service.”
5 have stabilised. But Colin Matthews, BAA’s chief executive, said a system of
punctuality targets had not yet been agreed with the airlines or with the Civil
Aviation Authority regulator.
segregated mode) to end to create up to 10% more capacity on the existing 2 runways
before a 3rd is built.
closest to Heathrow a half-day’s break from the noise. Under the proposed system
of mixed-mode operation, both runways would be used for take-offs and landings
throughout the day.
that expanding the airport would cause “irreparable damage to the quality of life
for people under runway flightpaths”.
that adding flights could be achieved without breaching European Union air pollution
limits or making noise worse.
third runway in an attempt to slow the project. (More on this story).
the actress, and by Zac Goldsmith, the Tories’ environmental adviser, to purchase
the land, which could be divided into thousands of sub-plots – owned by separate
backers.
to expansion. Some MPs fear the Tory approach will set the party at loggerheads
with business.