News Sept to end Nov 2008

 

Climate change advisor denies he endorses 3rd runway at Heathrow

29th November 2008         The government’s leading advisor on climate change has denied a report that he
endorses the case for a 3rd runway at Heathrow. Lord Adair Turner dismissed the
report in The Guardian as “completely misleading”. He had been reported as saying
aviation could continue to expand while the world cut greenhouse-gas emissions
elsewhere. His rebuttal came as Theresa Villiers reiterated Conservative opposition
to Heathrow expansion. (Travel Weekly)           Click here to view full story…

BAA backing for green Heathrow watchdog

27th November 2008         BAA has proposed an environmental watchdog to cap flight numbers in future. The
watchdog would step in if air pollution or noise limits were overstepped, and
would have powers to put a limit on traffic. BAA said it could be trusted to keep
its word on green safeguards, even if it meant running at below capacity. BAA
has long argued that it wants the extra capacity primarily to cut delays and would
not use it all. Local residents are not persuaded. (Standard)         Click here to view full story…  


 

Life under Heathrow flight path about to get noisier

27th November 2008           The number of flights at Heathrow will increase far sooner than the Government
has previously admitted under plans to end mixed mode on the two existing runways.
BAA hopes those living under the flight paths will not notice that noise is spreading
throughout the day. Ministers will probably allow expansion to begin as early
as 2010, with at least another 60,000 flights a year, up from 480,000 to 540,000
using the existing two runways by 2015 – or earlier. (Times)         Click here to view full story…

Climate change watchdog backs expansion of Heathrow

27th November 2008           Lord Turner, chairman of the Climate Change Cttee, has said the UK could meet
its ambitious pledge to slash greenhouse gas pollution by 80% by 2050 even if
ministers give the go-ahead to expanding Heathrow. He says that is “especially
if airlines were able to use biofuels or other low-carbon power sources”. “It’s
possible for the world to cut greenhouse gases while still not cutting aviation
by anything like as much, even increase aviation emissions,” he said. (Guardian)        
Click here to view full story…

Miliband prepared to break pollution laws over Heathrow

26th November 2008         Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband has refused to rule out turning a blind
eye to air quality laws to give the go-ahead for a 3rd runway at Heathrow. Experts
believe that EU NOx limits will be exceeded for years to come after 2015 around
Heathrow if it is allowed to grow. Mr Miliband, asked to give a guarantee that
the Government would not ignore minor breaches of air quality laws to allow another
runway, stopped short of giving such a pledge. (Standard)       Click here to view full story…



 

BAA agrees to Heathrow watchdog if it gets its 3rd runway

26th November 2008         BAA says it will accept an independent body with the power to limit flights –
if limits on noise and pollution are breached – if its third runway is approved.
BAA also wants to be able to use both Heathrow’s existing runways for take-offs
and landings simultaneously, but it says if it gets this concession, it will not
increase flight numbers but use the extra capacity to cut delays. (BBC)       Click here to view full story…

Environment Agency rounds on plan for third Heathrow runway

23rd November 2008         Building a 3rd runway at Heathrow would make it "impossible" to meet legally
binding targets on air pollution, according to Lord Smith, head of the Environment
Agency. In a speech tomorrow the government’s own green watchdog will increase
pressure on ministers not to approve the expansion. Geoff Hoon’s decision next
month hinges on whether an expanded Heathrow will be able to meet European air
quality targets, due to come into force in 2010. (Sunday Times)       Click here to view full story…

BA chief puts case for third Heathrow runway

20th November 2008         Willie Walsh warned ministers that rejection of the project to build a third
runway at Heathrow would leave Britain without a hub airport to match rivals in
Europe and the Middle East for a generation. He told an aviation conference in
London that the UK economy would be held back by inadequate air links for 30 years.
(FT)     Click here to view full story…

ICE president Jean Venables speaks out against Heathrow expansion

19th November 2008           Institution of Civil Engineers president Jean Venables spoke out against expansion
of Heathrow and instead backed Tory plans for high speed rail. On plans for a
3rd runway she said: “We have got to urgently change the way we look at transport.
“We have got to look at transport policy as a whole and that means integrating
airports with rail and roads. I firmly believe the High Speed rail option is the
most attractive one.” (NCE)       Click here to view full story…



 

Boris Johnson pledges £15,000 to anti-Heathrow runway campaign

18th November 2008         Boris has pledged an initial £15,000 towards the cost of mounting a legal challenge
if ministers go ahead with plans to build a 3rd runway at Heathrow, and may pay
more if needed. The mayor and a coalition of 21 local authorities representing
4 million people believe the expansion of Heathrow would breach EU laws on pollution
and the case for the runway expansion did not outweigh “concerns for the local
environment in terms of noise and air quality”. (Guardian)         Click here to view full story…

Boris Johnson ready to sue over third Heathrow runway

16th November 2008         Boris Johnson has threatened to take legal action against the government if ministers
go ahead with plans to build a 3rd runway at Heathrow. He and a coalition of local
authorities representing 4 million people believe expansion, which would increase
the number of flights at Heathrow from 480,000 to 700,000 a year, would breach
EU laws on pollution. Legal action could derail Hoon’s intention to ensure the
new runway is operational by 2030. (Sunday Times)       Click here to view full story…

The Big Question: What would a third runway mean for Heathrow, and is it really
necessary?

12th November 2008         Opposition to a new Heathrow runway is mounting, even within the Government’s
own ranks. A debate on this was called after around 50 Labour MPs backed a Parliamentary
motion opposing expansion. Cabinet ministers – Hilary Benn, Harriet Harman, Ed
and David Miliband – are all said to have expressed concerns. The most common
argument for a runway is growing demand. Ministers talk about needing to take
“tough decisions” to keep the UK competitive.(Indy)       Click here to view full story…  


 

MPs debate Heathrow expansion

11th November 2008         MPs have held a debate on capacity at Heathrow Airport amid a widening Labour
rift over whether to press ahead with plans for expansion. Tuesday’s Commons debate
came after more than 50 Labour backbenchers signed an EDM against the plan, with
reported tacit backing from some cabinet ministers. critics claim that the decision
would make a mockery of the government’s pledge to cut the country’s carbon emissions
by 80 per cent by 2050. (ePolitix)       Click here to view full story…

Ministers to throw full weight behind third runway for Heathrow

9th November 2008         Geoff Hoon, the Transport Secretary, will use a full-scale Commons debate on
the runway plans on Tuesday to send the clearest signal yet that the Government
will give the go-ahead to the expansion of Heathrow within weeks. Ministers are
determined to face down Labour rebels after 38 of the party’s backbench MPs signed
a Commons motion opposing plans for a third runway. He wants to “smoke out” Tory
divisions on the issue. (Telegraph)         Click here to view full story…



 

Heathrow on Sea gets boost from Boris Johnson

9th November 2008         Proposals to build a replacement for Heathrow in the Thames estuary have taken
significant steps forward with Boris Johnson preparing to appoint the civil engineer
behind Hong Kong’s giant island airport to examine the viability of the project.
The move comes as senior MPs have set up a cross-party group to lobby the government
to investigate the idea. The Thames estuary idea is loosely based on Hong Kong.
(Sunday Times)  

Click here to view full story…

Time to say ‘no’ to Heathrow’s expansion

9th November 2008           The Sunday Times leader says Heathrow’s third runway will be debated in the Commons
this week. We hope the voices of opposition, said to reach right into the cabinet,
will be in full flow. But a government go-ahead, when it comes, will mean little.
It will be followed by a judicial review and a lengthy planning process. The government
may well be out of office long before a single strip of runway has been laid down.    
Click here to view full story…

Heathrow Third-runway blues

 7th November 2008         30 airlines have gone bust this year and Willie Walsh expects another 30 to follow
them. Survivors are cutting capacity and raising prices. The number of flights
to and from Heathrow this winter is forecast to fall by 2%. Mr Walsh believes
the era of cheap flying is over. The credit crunch will affect BAA too, partly
by cutting the price Gatwick will fetch, so making it much harder for BAA to finance
the future development of Heathrow. (Economist)     Click here to view full story…


 

Ministers agree to Heathrow debate

7th November 2008         Ministers have bowed to growing pressure from MPs and have agreed to a government-led
debate on Tuesday on plans to expand Heathrow with the addition of a 3rd runway
and 6th terminal. A group of rebel Labour MPs have joined forces with Conservative
and Liberal Democrat leaders to express opposition to the government’s support
for the project. An EDM by John Grogan MP urging the government to rethink Heathrow
plans has been signed by 116 MPs. (FT)       Click here to view full story…

Expand Heathrow, says train firm FirstGroup

6th November 2008       One of Britain’s largest public transport operators, FirstGroup, backed the case
for a Heathrow 3rd runway, while confirming that bus and rail journeys are proving
more recession-proof than air travel. FirstGroup, owner of the First Great Western
and First Capital Connect rail services, said that Heathrow should be expanded
as well as extra rail capacity being built, such as a high-speed line linking
London to the north of England and Scotland. (Guardian)         Click here to view full story…

MPs revolt over third Heathrow runway

3rd November 2008         The case for building a third runway at Heathrow has been challenged by figures
showing a significant fall in flights this winter as cabinet ministers join a
Labour revolt against expanding the airport. The number of flights to and from
Heathrow will fall by 1.9% – equivalent to 25 flights a day – this winter compared
with the same period last year. BAA said the long-term growth forecasts for aviation
in the UK showed a different trend. (Guardian)    

Click here to view full story…



Third runway at Heathrow would wreck climate target

2nd November 2008         Gordon Brown has been warned by senior ministers that approving a 3rd runway
at Heathrow could wreck the government’s green credentials and undermine efforts
to combat climate change – an 80% cut by 2050. The prime minister is facing a
revolt from the cabinet and senior MPs. Among the critics is Harriet Harman, who
fears residents angry at the increased noise and congestion could eject a clutch
of Labour MPs in west London at the next election. (Times)           Click here to view full story…

Labour MPs oppose Heathrow runway (105 have signed EDM 2344 by 31st Oct)     [ 121 by 8th November]   [146 by 12th November]

30th October 2008           A growing number of Labour MPs have urged ministers to rethink their plans for
a 3rd runway at Heathrow. MPs from all parties have signed a Commons motion urging
the government to look at “alternative solutions” to take into account noise and
air pollution. The Tories and Lib Dems oppose a 3rd runway but 28 Labour MPs are
among the 78 who have signed the motion (95 have now) (BBC)         Click here to view full story…

Heathrow: MPs plot revolt against third runway

29th October 2008       Plans for a 3rd runway at Heathrow were threatened by a Cabinet revolt. Ministers
were said to be secretly fuelling a Commons rebellion against expansion of the
airport. Dozens of MPs were joining a campaign to scupper the proposed runway
amid doubts over whether it would be needed if aviation traffic is reduced in
a global economic slowdown. From 19 votes for EDM 2344 – by John Grogan – yesterday,
the figure is now 78 this evening. (Evening Standard)       Click here to view full story…

 

Heathrow plan attacked by Chris Smith – Chairman of the EA

29th October 2008                   (New Statesman)       Click here to view full story…  

 

Rebel MPs table Heathrow early day motion

28th October 2008       (Planning)         Click here to view full story…



Passenger jets 10 seconds from collision at Heathrow

 26th October 2008           (Mail)       Click here to view full story…

 

Tributes to dedicated campaigner Ann Sobey from Harmondsworth and Sipson

 23rd October 2008               Click here to view full story…



Heathrow ‘needs rail links as well as third runway’

23rd October 2008       (Evening Standard)         Click here to view full story…

 

Heathrow Airtrack consultation to take place from October 20th

21st October 2008       (BAA)   Click here to view full story…

 

Health trust to sue Heathrow over expansion

21st October 2008         (Standard)       Click here to view full story…   



 

Tory opposition to new airport runways ‘baffling’ – say aviation companies

21st October 2008        .     Click here to view full story…

 

Passenger figures down at a number of UK airports during September

20th October 2008         (UK Airport News)   Click here to view full story…

 

Heathrow car park transit system takes shape

19th October 2008     . (UK Airport News)       Click here to view full story…   



 

Richest business travellers use Heathrow (CAA UK Passenger Survey 2007/8)

19th October 2008         (Times and CAA)       Click here to view full story…   



 

Heathrow expansion: government accused of dragging heels on EU pollution curbs

18th October 2008           (NCE)         Click here to view full story…

 

Government accused of delaying EU pollution cuts to allow Heathrow expansion

16th October 2008             Ministers are planning to water down EU pollution curbs in order to allow Heathrow
to expand. Official Whitehall papers show civil servants are working to delay
for 5 years a Brussels air quality directive due to come into force in 2010 –
specifically to avoid harming the airport’s growth. The documents, obtained under
FoI by the Evening Standard reveal that EU rules on levels of NO2 would pose a
‘risk’ to plans to increase flights at Heathrow. (Mail)       Click here to view full story…

Conservatives firm up opposition to Heathrow expansion as 6 trade unions come
out against 3rd runway

14th October 2008            (HACAN and NoTRAG).     Click here to view full story…  

 

Tories warn they will not honour decisions over Heathrow or Stansted expansion

14th October 2008           (Guardian)         Click here to view full story…

 

Tories warn firms off Heathrow

14th October 2008          (BBC)       Click here to view full story
 
 

The Independent on Sunday Green List: John Stewart tops list of Britain’s top
100 environmentalists

 12th October 2008               (IoS)       Click here to view full story…

New research shows business support for a 3rd runway to be less than the aviation
industry claims

12th October 2008               (Hacan)             Click here to view full story…



Heathrow expansion "not going to happen" – Vince Cable

 9th October 2008            (ABTN)           Click here to view full story…


New Transport Miniser Hoon says Tories letting down business on Heathrow

6th October 2008            (Labour Party)         Click here to view full story…

First meeting of business council calls for third Heathrow runway

 6th October 2008           (Standard)         Click here to view full story…

 
Heathrow third runway will ‘damage health’

 6th October 2008             (BBC)         Click here to view full story…

Heathrow – come and record a video podcast

6th October 2008            (Hounslow)           Click here to view full story…

 
Joint letter in the Guardian about Conservative policy on Heathrow
4th October 2008               Click here to view full story…
 

Noise likely to be key constraint against 3rd runway at Heathrow, according to
documents obtained by Greenpeace.

3rd October 2008         (FT)       Click here to view full story…

Government accused of spin as it rejects calls to review 3rd Heathrow runway

2nd October 2008        (Mail online)       Click here to view full story…

BA criticises Tory Heathrow plan

 1st October 2008             (BBC)           Click here to view full story…

Consultation begins on Heathrow equalities impact assessment

16th September 2008               (DfT)   Click here to view full story…    

Business Argument for Heathrow Expansion Rejected – Call reveals divisions within
the business community

15th September 2008             (HACAN)   Click here to view full story…    

Heathrow’s new terminal will not be ready for 2012 Olympics

2nd September 2008         (Telegraph)   Click here to view full story…

For Heathrow Airport stories before August 2008
see
Heathrow News before August 2008