09.02.10
The Labour Government's decision back a third runway at Heathrow has ‘stood the test of time’, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis told the House of Lords yesterday. He also said he was ‘confident’ that an agreement would be reached with the EC on pollution levels at the airport, which currently exceed EU limits.
Conservative transport spokeswoman Baroness Hanham said a third runway would ‘make it impossible to improve the air quality sufficiently to avoid this country being penalised [under EU laws]’. Her comments follow a report last month by the London Assembly that there are ‘clear inadequacies’ in the safeguards against air, noise and climate pollution imposed by the Government on the planned expansion.
Lord Adonis told peers at question time: ‘In respect of the decision to allow a planning application for a third runway, subject to conditions being met, that decision has stood the test of time. Despite 2 years of recession, Heathrow is still at 100% capacity despite the downturn in business at other airports.'
‘It is our main international hub, the lifeblood of our economy depends upon it and this Government will not betray the national interest by refusing to take a decision that is manifestly in the best interests of the country.’
Lord Adonis added: ‘We are in discussions with the EC [on emissions]. I am confident that we will reach a satisfactory position, but in respect of nitrogen dioxide combined aircraft and road vehicle nitrogen dioxide emissions around Heathrow are expected to halve by 2030 compared to 2002 even with a fully utilised third runway.’
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book heathrow airport hotel or heathrow airport car park at the lowest price click on these links to heathrow parking and heathrow hotels price comparison pages.
Copyright TMC Limited. All rights reserved.
Search & Buy