Lib Dems vow to fight on against Second Runway

8.03.46pm GMT Tue 20th Dec 2005

Saffron Walden Constituency Lib Dems have vowed to escalate their campaign against expansion at Stansted now that BAA has proposed new sites for a second runway.

Elfreda Tealby Watson, Lib Dem candidate in this year's general election, commented: "BAA are trying to fool us that they are looking for options with less environmental impact, but freedom to fly should not mean freedom to pollute.

"Any option that allows thousands of extra flights to take off will massively increase carbon emissions from planes & damage our global environment. How can Labour tell us it wants to protect our environment, then promote a policy that will lead to its destruction? The government supported the commitment at this weekend's Climate Change Conference to set new targets for reducing air pollution after 2012 when the Kyoto targets expire. Let's see action to back up those fine words."

"The Labour government must review its aviation policy. They should not allow the aviation industry to use the EU emission trading scheme to get unrestricted aviation growth. The Liberal Democrats want flights taxed instead of passengers. At least that would encourage airlines to fill their existing flights instead of just running more.

"A second runway at Stansted isn't even commercially viable - the low-cost airlines don't want to pay for it, and the major airlines based at Heathrow and Gatwick will refuse to pay for it.

Mark Gayler, Lib Dem Leader of Uttlesford District Council added: "A second runway here would lead to a huge increase in noise and air pollution, over a far wider area. We will see more congestion on our roads, destruction of vast areas of countryside, and many listed buildings. We pledge total opposition to all the options being put forward."

"We will fight these proposals to the bitter end - bitter for BAA, because when we get to the end of the campaign, they will have lost. We must do everything that we can to safeguard the quality of life in our area for future generations locally and globally."