Hutton signals go-ahead for Heathrow expansion before consultation ends

A huge expansion of Heathrow Airport was signalled by a minister today  - prompting claims that a Government consultation on a third runway is a 'sham'.  

The Government will make a decision on the future development of the UK's largest airport by the end of the year.

Under current proposals, another take-off and landing strip and a sixth terminal will be built by 2020.

The number of flights will rise from 480,000 a year today to 702,000 by 2030, while passenger levels at Heathrow - already condemned as a disgrace for the length of queues and poor facilities - will rise from 68 million to 122 million a year.

Local residents, however, claim that those affected by noise pollution from the airport will also soar to more than two million and environmentalists claim encouraging air travel will accelerate climate change.

Today Business Secretary John Hutton risked a backlash from campaigners by declaring that he was prepared to take 'difficult decisions on airport expansion'.

'British businesses, and ultimately the British people, would not forgive us if we shirked our responsibility to do what's right because we wanted an easy ride from green lobby groups,' he said at the opening of the Farnborough airshow.

'Because we understand the importance of air travel to the British economy, my pledge to you (the aviation industry) is that we will continue to show leadership and commitment in advancing the sustainable aviation agenda.

'So we will take the difficult decisions on airport expansion to ensure the UK has the transport infrastructure to continue to attract business from across the globe.

'The aerospace industry must remain central to the British economy - and to our future as a hi-tech manufacturing nation.'

Aides said that Mr Hutton was also keen to draw a dividing line between the Government and the Tories.

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David Cameron wants to cut carbon emissions by introducing a system of personal air mile allowances for travellers.

In a clear dig, Mr Hutton said: 'We will help make flying greener rather than restricting people's opportunities to fly altogether.'

Heathrow supports 170,000 jobs and billions of pounds of British exports as the UK's main gateway to the global economy.

Ministers fear that if nothing changes, its dwindling status as a world-class hub will be further eroded at huge cost to the economy.

Operator BAA claims that Heathrow is 'jam-packed' and needs a third runway to remain at the heart of international air travel.

In its 2003 'The Future of Air Transport' White Paper, the Government supported Heathrow's development subject to strict air quality and noise level targets and improved transport links.

Last summer environmental campaigners set up camp near Heathrow to protest against the airport's expansion plans and climate change.

One group even staged a rooftop protest at the Houses of Parliament.

Almost 70,000 individuals and organisations have responded to a Government consultation on Heathrow expansion, which Department for Transport officials are still sifting through.

But LibDem transport spokesman Norman Baker said: 'John Hutton has let slip what we knew all along: the consultation on a third runway at Heathrow is a sham.

'The Government decided a long time ago that it wanted a third runway and is behaving more and more like a subsidiary of BAA.'

Leader of Wandsworth Council in South-West London, Edward Lister, said: 'The government appears once again to be pre-judging the outcome of the consultation on Heathrow expansion.

'One third of the people flying in to Heathrow are transfer passengers. What benefits do they bring to the economy?

'It's time for an independent study of the economic effects of expansion.'