Ruth Cadbury Debate On The Latest Heathrow Consultation
Local MP says Heathrow expansion is expensive and environmentally damaging choice
Ruth Cadbury MP, for Brentford and Isleworth has raised the issue of the
environmental and economic consequences of a third runway at Heathrow
Airport in a
parliamentary debate at Westminster Hall which she initiated.
The MP believes that a second runway at Gatwick would provide a better alternative to a third runway at Heathrow in terms of both air quality, passenger experience and value for money.
The latest consultation on the planned third runway at Heathrow has been reopened due to new evidence. The reopened consultation on the draft airports national policy statement (NPS), which sets out the government’s support for the Heathrow project, initially closed in May but it has now been reopened until 19 December.
The Department for Transport published a series of fresh reports into
the impact of expanding the west London hub, including updated noise analysis
and a new
air quality plan. The latest figures show that demand from passengers
and airlines is expected to grow more quickly than anticipated over the
next few years.
The
Aviation National Policy Strategy (NPS) shows that the Government
has revised the assumed total net economic benefit of all schemes, with
Gatwick forecast to bring in passenger and national economic benefits
that are £1.5bn higher than Heathrow.
Additionally, the NPS suggests that the Government now accepts that it will have to cover the costs of surface access improvement to Heathrow which could be up to £10bn, whereas the second runway at Gatwick can be delivered without needing Government subsidy.
Air pollution is already a significant problem at Heathrow, and the Government admits this will get worse with a third Runway there, whereas there is no risk of breaching air quality standards if a second runway is built at Gatwick.
Image- Ian Wylie
Commenting on the announcement, Ruth Cadbury MP said: “The figures included in yesterday’s statement provide yet more evidence that, if further runway capacity is needed in the South East, a second runway at Gatwick would provide a better alternative to a third runway at Heathrow in terms of both air quality, passenger experience and value for money.
"What’s more, the recent downturn in growth in the UK means
the Government will have to revise aviation demand projections, downwards
not upwards, perhaps meaning an additional runway is not needed. And promised
future links between London and the north are worthless without long-term
Government subsidy. When will the government see sense on expanding airport
capacity and rule out Heathrow as the expensive and environmentally damaging
choice?"
“I am glad that in yesterday’s debate, I obtained a commitment
from the Minister that he would look at international best practice on
noise mitigation measures for communities near airports affected by noise.
The present and the proposed noise insulation scheme at Heathrow is woeful
and probably one of the least generous for nearby communities of any major
international airport in the world”
Ruth’s website.
Politicians and local campaign groups opposed to a 3rd runway gathered
in their local areas on Wednesday morning to demonstrate that the consequences
of expansion are unacceptable. The groups planted a total of 700 planes
– the additional number that would use Heathrow each day with a
3rd runway – to highlight the blight that would be inflicted upon
local communities.
A cross-party group of MPs, including shadow chancellor John McDonnell,
Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable
MP, gathered outside Westminster to send a message to the Government that
Heathrow expansion cannot be delivered.
The anti-airport expansion group Hacan has welcomed the government's announcement that it is to set up an independent noise authority. HACAN, which gives a voice to residents under the Heathrow flight paths, said that it could provide a useful fall-back for local people if they felt they weren’t being treated fairly.
ohn Stewart, HACAN chair, said, “We welcome the setting up of an independent noise body. It will help to ensure residents are treated more fairly. It is something we have been pressing for over a long period of time.”
Stewart called the passenger forecasts “startling”, adding “It is clear that demand over the next 15 years will come from London and the South East. This will add to the pressure to build a new runway somewhere in the region.”
Councillor Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council, said: “Our position on Heathrow Airport remains, as it has always been, that we’d like to see a better not bigger airport.
“The government’s recommended expansion at Heathrow will have a huge impact on the residents and businesses of Hounslow. The Council wants to ensure that issues of noise, pollution and additional congestion are properly addressed.
"This Department of Transport consultation is an important step towards a final decision and I strongly urge all Hounslow residents and businesses to make sure they have their say online.
“Have a look at all the information and put your views across. The consultation is open to everyone and we want to ensure voices from our borough are heard.”
Full information is available on the Department
of Transport’s website:
October 26, 2017
