Drop Thames Estuary airport plans, says London Assembly
Members of the London Assembly have urged mayor Boris Johnson to stop promoting a new airport in the Thames estuary, branding the scheme a ‘vanity project’. The assembly has passed a motion – proposed by Murad Qureshi – calling for the mayor to abandon proposals which they warned would have a devastating effect on the west London economy if Heathrow is forced to close, with up to 100,000 jobs on the line. The motion also warned that the project would create “huge environmental damage to a protected area” used by migrating birds as well as increase noise, congestion and pollution. It says the mayor’s plans as “simplistic and ill-considered” and called on him to “abandon this vanity project”.
By John Geoghegan (Planning)
22 June 2012
Members of the London Assembly have urged mayor Boris Johnson to stop promoting a new airport in the Thames estuary, branding the scheme a ‘vanity project’.
The assembly this week passed a motion calling for the mayor to abandon proposals which they warned would have a devastating effect on the west London economy if Heathrow is forced to close.
The motion warned that the project would create “huge environmental damage to a protected area” used by migrating birds as well as increase noise, congestion and pollution.
The motion, agreed at a meeting on Wednesday, described the mayor’s plans as “simplistic and ill-considered” and called on him to “abandon this vanity project”.
Labour member Murad Qureshi, who proposed the motion, said: “With up to 100,000 jobs on the line at Heathrow it is incredible that the mayor persists in promoting plans for a rival hub airport in the Thames Estuary.
“Such an airport would have a devastating effect on the west London economy as well as a serious impact on local wildlife in the estuary and a legacy of noise, congestion and pollution for millions of people in south-east London.
“The message from industry, the airlines and conservationists is simple – the mayor must drop this ridiculous vanity project”.
Support for a Thames estuary airport has long been championed by London mayor Boris Johnson, who is opposed to a third runway at Heathrow, and more recently by architect Lord Foster.
Last month, a Kent County Council report said the estuary airport plans should be dropped because of the cost and timescale.
The government will consult on the UK’s aviation strategy in the summer, as well as issue a call for evidence on how to maintain the country’s aviation hub status. It is expected to consider an option for an estuary airport, but ministers have said a third Heathrow runway is not on the cards.
.
Other Planning articles:
Build a second runway at Stansted, says Boris- Kent County Council report slates estuary airport
- Report: Extra runway at Gatwick could solve capacity problem
.
Boris airport ‘vanity project’ slammed by Assembly
20 JUNE 2012 (GLA)
The London Assembly today called on the Mayor to abandon his plans for a new airport in the Thames Estuary, describing them as a simplistic and ill-conceived vanity project.
A motion agreed by Assembly Members[1] urges the Mayor to abandon proposals which they warned would have a devastating effect on the west London economy, with up to 100,000 jobs at risk should Heathrow be forced to close.
They also warned that a major new airport in the estuary would create huge environmental damage to a protected area used by thousands of migrating birds as well as increase noise, congestion and pollution for millions of people in south east London.
Murad Qureshi AM (Assembly Member), who proposed the motion, said:
“With up to 100,000 jobs on the line at Heathrow it is incredible that the Mayor persists in promoting plans for a rival hub airport in the Thames Estuary. Such an airport would have a devastating effect on the west London economy as well as a serious impact on local wildlife in the estuary and a legacy of noise, congestion and pollution for millions of people in south-east London.
“The message from industry, the airlines and conservationists is simple – the Mayor must drop this ridiculous vanity project.”
The full text of the motion agreed at today’s meeting reads as follows:
“This Assembly believes that the Mayor’s plans for a new airport in the Thames Estuary are simplistic and ill-considered and calls upon him to abandon this vanity project.
For a new airport in the Thames Estuary to be a success, Heathrow would need to close, which would have a devastating effect on London’s economy, costing over 100,000 jobs in west London. The proposed airport would cause huge environmental damage to a protected area which is used by many thousands of migrating birds, creating a high risk of bird strike. It would threaten a huge increase in noise, congestion and pollution for millions of people in the east and south east of London, especially in Bromley, Bexley, Havering and Barking.”
Notes for editors:
- The motion was agreed by 15 votes for and 9 against at a meeting of the full Assembly today. Watch the webcast.
- The motion was seconded by Onkar Sahota AM
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.