Do we need a third runway at Heathrow?

WHY are we at the mercy of the green lobby with the courts halting a third runway at Heathrow because the Government has ‘unlawfully’ failed to assess the impact on climate change? Not expanding Heathrow means we will abandon our prime position in Europe by giving air travel benefits to our competitors in France and Germany. It’s the end for the economy if crackpots can challenge every infrastructure project. Can I catch the last plane out before the lights go out?

MICHAEL J. COLE, Wolstanton, Staffs. THE court ruling on Heathrow expansion is welcome news, not only at a time of international climate crisis and domestic flooding, but also given the Government’s expressed wish to invest in the whole of the UK. The New Economics Foundation reported that the regions could lose £43 billion due to a third runway, while the South-East would be blighted by air and noise pollution. As an added bonus, we can show world leadership at the UN climate change conference in Glasgow.

TOM GREENWOOD, London SE8.

THERE is a cheaper way to increase passenger capacity at Heathrow than building a third runway. Move freight to a purpose-built terminal on a greenfield site near a motorway.

DAVID VANSTONE, Peterborough, Cambs. WOULDN’T it make more sense to allow runway three to go ahead? Surely if the Government and aviation industry were fully committed to carbon-free aircraft, the courts could restrict the new runway to electric planes only. This would put more urgency into developing this technology. If, as the Government says, we need to be a global nation, a third runway is a necessity.

M. FINNIS, Barton-upon-Humber, Lincs.

HEATHROW expansion would have meant unacceptable social and environmental consequences. The airport would now do well to concentrate on becoming better, rather than bigger.

REV A. McLUSKEY, Ashford, Middlesex. STOPPING a third runway at Heathrow will have no effect on climate change. What would work is reducing the evergrowing world population, but no one seems interested in this.

ROGER GRIFFITHS, Loughton, Essex.