Recommendations that a third runway be built at Heathrow on the condition of stricter noise and environmental demands have failed to assuage concerns in local government.
The Airports Commission’s final report into expanded capacity this morning advised that construction of a new northern runway at the site would offer ‘the best answer’ for economic growth but would have to be accompanied by a ban on night flights, legally binding caps on noise and a moratorium on plans for a further fourth runway.
Sir Howard Davies, commission chair said Heathrow was ‘best-placed to provide the type of capacity which is most urgently needed’ and expansion represented ‘an opportunity to change the airport’s relationship with its local communities’.
Davies urged ministers to form a final decision on the airport expansion plans ‘as quickly as it can’, warning that ‘further delay will be increasingly costly’.
Cllr Ray Puddifoot, leader of Hillingdon Council to the north of Heathrow, said: ‘The Airports Commission has spent three years and £20m to come up with a list of "ifs and buts" required before a third runway at Heathrow could be considered.
‘Whilst I appreciate that they have tried to make the best of a poor job, it is very disappointing that the pursuit of economic growth and profit for the foreign owners of Heathrow, whilst accepted as important, is given priority over the effects on the environment and the lives and health and wellbeing of residents of the West of London,’
‘It is clear to me that expansion at Heathrow will never happen - no ifs or buts,’ he added.
Despite having long opposed growth at Heathrow, Hounslow Council – whose district lies largely to the east of the airport - welcomed the ‘severe restrictions’ proposed for noise and pollution.
However the council leader Cllr Steve Curran conceded the Commission’s recommendations for expansion would have ‘a huge impact’ on the region and vowed the town hall would continue pushing ‘for the very best noise protection and pollution control measures’.
London mayor Boris Johnson – whose proposals for a new airport in the Thames estuary were shelved – greeted the news with disappointment. He told the BBC that the expansion was ‘not going to happen’ due to strong opposition.
Leader of West Sussex CC, Louise Goldsmith, said today’s news would be warmly received ‘by many residents across West Sussex who live close to Gatwick Airport or under flight paths,’ who had been long campaigning against proposals for a second runway at the airport. She added that communities should not be ‘left in limbo’ over the Government’s final decision.
Transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said his department would consider the advice from the Airports Commission ‘in detail’, with a statement expected this afternoon on how a decision is to be made.
John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport said: ‘Our new plans have been designed around the needs of local communities and will meet carbon, air quality and noise targets, and provides the greatest benefit to the UK’s connectivity and its long term economic growth.
‘We will create the world’s best connected, most efficient and most environmentally responsible hub airport at the heart of an integrated transport system.The Commission has backed a positive and ambitious vision for Britain. We will now work with Government to deliver it.’
Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate said his airport was ‘still very much in the race’ for expansion, adding that he was ‘confident that when the Government makes that decision they will choose Gatwick as the only deliverable option’.
