Heathrow expansion delay slammed

Dec 5 2008 By Greg Burns

South Bucks District Council have slammed the Government's handling of the Heathrow expansion and said they can not be trusted to make the right decision after delaying the unveiling of their latest plans this week.

Transport secretary Geoff Hoon was expected to make an announcement on the results of the Adding Capacity at Heathrow consultation held earlier this year but announced on Thursday (4/12) that this would be delayed until the end of January 2009.

The expansion plans have angered SBDC over the effects that the increased air traffic over the district would have on the air quality in the area.

Roger Reed, leader of SBDC speaking on behalf of 2M an all-party alliance of 21 local authorities across the region, vented his fury at the hold up this week.

He said: "The Government's plans are in complete disarray. They can't meet the air quality limits, they can't solve the noise problems and they've understated the impact of extra traffic on the roads.

"Ministers don't have an answer to the six million dollar question – how can the public trust you to keep expansion within air quality limits when you won't do it now?"

The Government has to be confident that EU air quality limits can be met before it can support either a third runway or more intensive use of existing runways.

Mr Reed said: "I suspect the DfT will be spending the next eight weeks manipulating the figures in a desperate bid to prop up the case for expansion. Their time would be better employed coming up with a new set of sustainable transport policies that benefit the whole nation."

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