Are Heathrow Expansion Plans Good for Stansted?

10.26.44pm GMT Tue 27th Nov 2007

Last week, the Government announced a consultation paper on a Third Runway at Heathrow. The Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly, told 'The Times' that it was much more important to expand Heathrow than Stansted because of the economic benefits of adding capacity at Britain's only hub airport, which has flights to all the major countries.

Commenting on government plans announced today to further expand Heathrow airport, Uttlesford Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Peter Wilcock said:

"If this is true, then we will equally support opposition to expansion at Heathrow, as we have done at Stansted. The Airport Transport White Paper called for an end to uncertainty that blighted people's homes and indeed their lives. There is now more uncertainty than ever.

"Given the need to greatly reduce carbon emissions, the last thing that ministers should be doing is doubling the capacity of any airport.

"The Government policy on airport development in the South East is now in tatters and they should agree with their own environmental policy of limiting carbon emissions, by putting no more runways at existing airports in the South East.

Related Link:

Government consultation paper on a Third Runway at Heathrow