Chris Huhne Affirms Lib Dem Opposition To Second Runway And Praises Uttlesford's Environmental Policies

10.33.07pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 29th Mar 2007

Chris Huhne MP and Lib Dem Councillor Richard Freeman watch a member of Uttlesford District Council's staff empty a wheelie bin. Lib Dem-led Uttlesford's recycling rate soared to 57% in January - nearly 4 times the rate under the Conservatives.

Chris Huhne, MP, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, launched the Uttlesford Liberal Democrats Manifesto - entitled "Leading Uttlesford to a Sustainable Future" - on Thursday 29th March.

Mr Huhne accompanied Liberal Democrat councillors (including Uttlesford District Council leader, Lib Dem Cllr Mark Gayler) and local members to view the highly successful three-bin recycling scheme in action. The scheme has allowed Uttlesford residents to double the amount they recycle. The Liberal Democrat manifesto for 2007-2011 promises to establish the district as one of the top ten councils in England for recycling.

Mr Huhne then visited Thaxted to inspect the refurbished accommodation at Vicarage Mead. The Liberal Democrat-led District Council has improved all its housing stock to the Government's Decent Homes standard three years before their target date. Chris Huhne also visited Thaxted Day Centre which is to be rebuilt using an innovative design to reduce the building's carbon emissions through the use of solar panels and other technologies to minimise energy use.

Finally Mr Huhne visited Le Knells at Coopers End, Takeley - the closest listed building to the airport that will be demolished if the second runway at Stansted gets the go-ahead. This part of the visit was arranged by the anti-Stansted Expansion pressure group - SSE. The Liberal

Democrat-run District Council rejected an application from BAA plc for increased use of the existing runway late last year on Climate Change and other environmental grounds. The Uttlesford Lib Dem Manifesto pledges to oppose these plans and those for a second runway at Stansted vigorously.

Mr Huhne affirmed the Liberal Democrats opposition to a second runway at Stansted, and praised Liberal Democrat-run Uttlesford Council for its environmental policies.

"The growth of aviation is unsustainable in environmental terms," said Mr Huhne. "Liberal Democrats have long advocated that action need to be taken to control aviation, and are opposed to any further runways in the South East.

"Uttlesford is in the front line of an unsustainable policy of airport expansion in the south east which assumes that aviation will continue to grow at more than twice the possible rate if we are to tackle carbon emissions. The Government needs a rethink and quickly."

Cllr Mark Gayler, Leader of the District Council, said that "In the coming years, we will ensure that combating climate change is at the heart of all the Council does in energy use, recycling, new housing development and our opposition to the expansion of Stansted Airport. We will ensure that all Uttlesford residents enjoy the best quality of life, in flourishing communities, and that everyone enjoys equal opportunities to share in our successes."

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You can read "Leading Uttlesford to a Sustainable Future" by clicking here (Acrobat Reader required).