Truss backs Heathrow 3rd runway, hoping aviation will become “environmentally friendly”!
Liz Truss has reiterated her support for a third runway at Heathrow, as did her new Transport Secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, a week earlier. Ms Truss was asked in the Commons, at PM’s questions, by Lib Dem MP Sarah Olney, about her support for a larger Heathrow. She parotted that standard answer about aviation being important for the UK’s economic growth blah blah. Sarah Olney said, as well as extra CO2 emissions of perhaps 6 million tonnes per year, from a 3rd runway, its impact would be seriously more noise for perhaps 2 million households in areas where Heathrow flights are audible. Truss etc hope (presumably without any proper research into the matter) that air travel can, amazingly, be expanded while at the same time become more [sic] more “environmentally friendly.” That means a vast, implausibly large and rapid expansion in production and use of alternative jet fuels, (SAF) that are genuinely low carbon. Paul McGuinness, chairman of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, said Heathrow expansion should only considered within a national UK aviation strategy, looking at all the regions, which so far does not exist.
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Liz Truss backs construction of a 3rd runway at Heathrow but warns the aviation industry it needs to become ‘more environmentally friendly’ in future
– PM grilled about the controversial expansion of the UK’s largest air hub
– The £14billion programme a hot topic for the Tories for more than a decade
– Ex-PM Boris Johnson opposed it and vowed to lay down in front of the diggers
By DAVID WILCOCK, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR FOR MAILONLINE
12 October 2022
Liz Truss has reiterated her support for a third runway at Heathrow – but warned the aviation industry it needs to become more environmentally friendly.
The PM spoke as she was grilled in the Commons today about the controversial expansion of the UK’s largest air hub.
The £14billion programme has proved a hot topic for the Tories for more than a decade.
Former PM Boris Johnson opposed it and once vowed to lay down in front of the diggers if it went ahead – though he later avoided having to vote against it in the Commons.
Quizzed at Prime Minister’s Questions today, Ms Truss said she agreed with Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan, who last week backed the project because ‘aviation is a really important part of our growth’.
The PM spoke as she was grilled in the Commons today about the controversial expansion of the UK’s largest air hub.
Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney told the Commons: ‘For my constituents in Richmond Park and communities across south-west London – from Wimbledon to Elmbridge – any expansion of Heathrow would be disastrous.’
Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney told the Commons: ‘For my constituents in Richmond Park and communities across south-west London – from Wimbledon to Elmbridge – any expansion of Heathrow would be disastrous.
‘A third runway would see over six million more tonnes of carbon pumped into the atmosphere every year and two million households affected by increased noise levels.
‘Last week the Transport Secretary said she supported Heathrow expansion, the Prime Minister has previously stated she would support a fourth runway.
‘So does the Prime Minister stand by her previous comments or will she rule out Government support for construction of a third runway at Heathrow?’
Ms Truss replied at Prime Minister’s Questions: ‘I absolutely agree with what the Transport Secretary said in her comments.
‘What we need to do is make sure industries like the air industry become more environmentally friendly. I support the development of low-carbon technology in those sectors, that’s the way we will help grow the economy but also serve the environment.’
Former prime minister Boris Johnson, who is Tory MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, once declared that he would lie in front of the bulldozers to prevent expansion at Heathrow.
Paul McGuinness, chairman of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, said: ‘Whatever this new administration and Transport Secretary might say now, facts are likely to steer Government away from Heathrow expansion.
‘After all, with forecasts that Heathrow expansion would lead to a loss of activity at regional airports, even embedded in the policy document originally supporting Heathrow’s growth, and the Climate Change Committee calculating that Heathrow expansion might require the closure of some regional airports, it is becoming clear that a national aviation strategy is required.
‘Indeed, it is difficult to see how any responsible government would allow the interests of the regions to be so inadvertently overlooked by ploughing on with Heathrow regardless.’
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See earlier:
Truss’ new Transport Secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, backs a 3rd Heathrow runway
With the arrival of the Truss government in September, Grant Shapps (a big aviation enthusiast) was removed from the job of Transport Secretary, and replaced by Anne-Marie Trevelyan. She has now said, at the (somewhat fractious!) Tory party conference that she is supports building a 3rd Heathrow runway, and is an ‘absolute believer’ in aviation expansion’s potential benefits, with it being “a really important part of our growth.” Boris Johnson opposed the 3rd runway. The main focus of the Truss government is economic growth, at any cost, with desperation to get more economic activity and more money for those earning. She believes a growing airport will increase UK exports by air. After years of wrangling, Heathrow’s plan to build a third runway was originally given the green light in 2018 by Chris Grayling, under Theresa May. It cannot go ahead until a DCO has been applied for and allowed, and the airport can find the necessary money. Ms Trevelyan said concerns about increasing aviation CO2 are no longer valid because of the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuels.
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Heathrow’s Spanish owner Ferrovial considers selling stake if airport does not make enough money
Ferrovial, which owns 25% of Heathrow, is considering selling its stake. A French investor, Ardian – which has other airport interests – might buy it. Ferrovial considers it has not made, and is not making, enough money from Heathrow. It is displeased by the CAA ruling, that Heathrow cannot hugely increase its landing fees charged per passenger at Heathrow. Heathrow wanted to put this up to over £40 per person, but recently the CAA ruled that it will have to fall from £30.19 to £26.31 by 2026, despite a furious lobbying effort by the airport. Ferrovial is understood to have been approached by Ardian, a Paris-based private equity firm, about a possible joint deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Ardian held a 49% stake in Luton airport between 2013 and 2018. Ferrovial has said it would be sceptical about committing further funding to Heathrow if the airport cannot get CAA agreement on charges. The lower landing charges are a disincentive to new investors, who fear low profits. Experts consider that any decision to cut off funding was likely to scupper plans for a 3rd runway, with progress already disrupted by a sharp fall in air travel during the pandemic and huge debts.
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