Uncertainty Surrounds Heathrow Airport Expansion

December 23, 2003

Uncertainty Surrounds Airport Expansion
Staines Guardian, UK


UNCERTAINTY looms over expansion at Heathrow, after the government confirmed 
that the airport would get a third runway, and a possible sixth terminal, but 
only if it overcomes a range of problems.

The 30-year plan for air travel in the UK has included proposals for expansion 
at Heathrow, between 2015 and 2020, if it meets a range of environmental and 
noise rules, and has dealt a blow to campaigners who had been looking to the 
government to rule out expansion completely.

Alistair Darling, transport secretary, unveiled a series of environmental 
conditions which would need to be met, in announcing the plan on Tuesday. In 
addition to meeting EU limits on pollution, there would have to be no increase 
in the area affected by aircraft noise around Heathrow, and the airport will 
also have to put pressure on airlines to improve technology, charge passengers 
for driving to the airport and use clean fuel in service vehicles.

But while such restrictions will make it difficult for the airport to grow, the 
government proposals have been criticised by Spelthorne's MP, David Wilshire, 
who said that being forced to wait and see whether another runway can be built, 
some time after 2015, is the worst possible answer'.

"What my constituents need is someone with the courage to say yes or no now," 
he continued. "If the Secretary of State had said yes', he would have pleased 
just over half my constituents. If he had said no', he would have pleased the 
rest.

"Instead, he will now upset them all especially as he appears to support the 
scrapping of runway alternation.

"Uncertainty over the future of Heathrow is bad news for my constituents, the 
South East and the whole of the UK.

"Locally, those who work at or depend on Heathrow, and who believe that another 
runway is needed to safeguard their jobs, will now worry about redundancy.

"Those who paid a high price for their home will now worry whether local 
property values will fall. Those who want to sell their homes will now suffer 
from planning blight.

"Those who want a better environment will now wonder whether they will ever get 
it."

His views were echoed by Karen Satterford, chief executive of Spelthorne 
Borough Council, who said: "We have always been opposed to expansion at 
Heathrow, largely because of the environmental impact it will cause to our area.

"We broadly welcome the fact that this problem has been recognised, but we are 
concerned and disappointed that expansion has still been proposed."

More immediately ominous was the proposals that maximum use' should be made of 
the existing runways - raising fears that alternation between the two existing 
runways will be used to increase the numbers of flights arriving and departing. 
Currently, runway alternation offers several hours' respite each day from 
aircraft noise which can be one every 60 seconds at peak times.

John Stewart, chairman of HACAN ClearSkies, said: "Of course, we are pleased 
that a third runway has been ruled out for now. But blight and uncertainty 
remains.

"We will redouble our efforts to ensure that further expansion is ruled out for 
ever and a day.

"The threat to end runway alternation will cause fury among local people. It is 
the only thing that makes life bearable for them."

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