British authorities under fire over airport expansion delays
Environmental impact of possible extension at Europe’s busiest airport to be assessed by authorities
The British government was on the back foot yesterday after being branded “gutless” for further delaying a decision on where to build a much-needed new runway for London.
The government said on Thursday it would postpone the decision until at least mid2016 to assess the environmental impact of possible expansion at London Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport.
Businesses have been lobbying for a third runway at Heathrow, a move fiercely opposed by environmental groups and lawmakers in residential west London.
Prime Minister David Cameron had promised a decision before the New Year.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin yesterday refused to rule out yet more delay on choosing between a third runway at Heathrow, extending one of the current runways or building a second one at the secondary London Gatwick Airport.
The government had made “some important moves” forward by accepting the case for expanding airport capacity in southeast England, he told BBC radio. “We accept that additional airport capacity is needed and we will make a decision on that hopefully in the summer of next year”, which would “still allow us to get the extra capacity we need by 2030”.
Options on the table
McLoughlin insisted all options were “still on the table”.
“Please get off the fixation of a third runway” at Heathrow, he said.
An earlier commission had recommended expanding Heathrow, but hundreds of homes would have to be demolished and the extra traffic could mean Britain fails to meet emissions targets.
Business groups have called for Heathrow’s extension, which they say would boost trade and help Britain keep up with rapidly expanding airports in the Middle East and Asia.
Heathrow handled some 73.4 million passengers in 2014 and connects to 185 destinations in 84 countries.