Heathrow expansion

Written by Vincent Cable MP and published in Informer on Fri 15th Dec 2006

Just before Christmas the government quietly slipped out an announcement which will influence local campaigning for the next decade. It plans to allow Heathrow airport to add a new runway and terminal and more flights. New legislation will make it harder to delay planning approval. Next year the government will consult prior to ending the alternation of runways, leading to more flights, much sooner.

I shall oppose the expansion plans. But I recognise that the issues are complex. Many local people work at the airport and others need it for business travel. London's success requires efficient communications. Like most residents I occasionally use the airport for a holiday or family visit overseas. And my wife and I brought a house in Twickenham, 33 years ago, knowing that we lived near a busy, noisy, airport.

That said the build-up of flights has been remorseless despite assurances of a cap. Night flights continue unabated. The ending of alternation would expose some residents to relentless noise, without relief, if they live under a flight path.

We also now know that there is serious environmental damage from growing air traffic and the associated ground traffic. NOX emissions - pollution associated with asthma and other respiratory conditions - are already close to legal limits. CO2 emissions from aviation are rising rapidly and must be curbed if the government is serious about countering global warming. The 'predict and provide' approach is now as discredited for aviation as for motorways.

The push for airport expansion comes at a time when there is growing scepticism about the value of promoting growth over quality of life, and environment. There will be far more public opposition to these new developments, than the last, at T5. This time I think residents may win.