Airport Expansion Plans Reaction

2.52.56pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 7th Jun 2005

There was strong reaction to the decision this week of the airport operator (BAA) to confirm its intention to build a sixth terminal to go with a third runway (approved last year in principle by the Transport Secretary for 2015-2020 subject to meeting pollution reduction requirements).

Vincent Cable MP said: "This development is all too predictable but will depress residents who see no end to the endless cycle of more flights and aircraft noise, more development at Heathrow, more flights and yet more development.

"The irony is that in a week when the government has come out with brave ideas for pricing road transport, in the field of aviation the authorities continue to believe that they can deal with aviation without trying to manage demand or introduce economically and environmentally rational pricing."