PM rules out Thames Estuary airport plan
Date added: 27 October, 2010
27.10.2010 (BBC)
The government has ruled out proposals to build a major airport in the Thames
Estuary or Kent to increase flight capacity for London.
The Prime Minister told the House of Commons the government had no plans to construct
a new airport in the area.
Mr Cameron was responding to a question by Gillingham and Rainham Conservative
MP Rehman Chishti.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has been considering plans for a new airport in
Kent and the Thames Estuary.
Mr Johnson wants to increase flight capacity around London without expanding
Heathrow.
‘Kickstarted debate’
Several options have been examined including the construction of an airport at
Cliffe, on the Hoo peninsula.
The area in north Kent is home to thousands of migratory birds.
The RSPB, Medway Council and Kent County Council had previously said the plan
would “devastate the environment”.
Mr Cameron told the House of Commons on Wednesday: “The Department for Transport
has no plans to build an airport in the Thames Estuary, Medway or Kent.
“We have also scrapped plans to build a third runway at Heathrow.”
A spokeswoman for the Mayor of London said the mayor had kickstarted a debate
about the best way to increase airport capacity in and around London.
She added: “Whatever conclusion is eventually reached it is vital that a location
for extra runway capacity is found for London to remain one of the leading world
cities.”
Following Mr Cameron’s comments, Mr Chisti said: “I am delighted by the Prime
Minister’s response and hope this will put an end to any further speculation.”
Related BBC stories
some of the recent stories:
Anger over revised plans for airport on Hoo peninsula
25th October 2010 Campaigners against a new airport in Kent have expressed anger that 7 years after
winning a fight against the plan it is now being reconsidered. A review by Boris
Johnson is to look at the option of developing the proposed site at Cliffe. Back
in December 2003, the government decided to leave Cliffe out of its airport expansion
plans. In summer it is an important breeding ground for birds such as avocets,
marsh harriers, Mediterranean gulls and little terns.