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Benn is right to raise fears over Heathrow says Mayor
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent16.12.08
BORIS JOHNSON today praised Cabinet minister Hilary Benn for raising concerns over a third runway at Heathrow.
The Mayor said the "tremendous good sense" of the Environment Secretary should serve as a warning for his colleagues that the airport must not be allowed to expand if it breaches new EU pollution laws.
Mr Johnson also undermined David Cameron's plan for tackling Britain's long-distance transport needs by arguing that a new high-speed rail link, as proposed by the Conservatives, was "not enough on its own".
The Mayor stressed that a third runway would mean planes flying over Harrow, Camden, Islington, Enfield - all areas with Labour MPs.
"In other words...hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Londoners stand to be affected in a way that the builders of Heathrow never imagined, while the auditory sufferings of west London will be intensified," he said.
"We can all surely agree that it makes little sense to entrench a colossal planning error of the Forties by expanding Heathrow in a way that will have all sorts of damaging impacts on the capital and the lives of its citizens." If a third runway is given the go-ahead the number of flights will increase from 480,000 a year to 700,000, he added.
Reader views (7)
High speed rail links now please. Beat the bust by spending tax pounds on something worthwhile. They make sense for the economy, for quality of life and for the environment. For the economy they can create jobs in the short term during planning and construction, and make the UK more attractive in the long term. The UK can be the most competitive country in Europe again but it needs to address its deficient infrastructure.
- Julian Rolfe, Paris, France
I'm afraid that Boris maybe only looking for points of the public. How can you say no to one airport expanding and say that another (London City Airport) can. This airport is built right in the middle of the most densely populated area in the country, it's literally a housing estate.
Get real I just don't get this at all. Aviation is not the be all and end all of this country, their only out for the shareholders and a quick buck. They don't care about communities and anyone who wants all this expansion are the most easily lead pack of sheep ever. WAKE UP!!!!!!!
- Bg, London
BAA sponsored comments like those above do not change the fact that any volume increase at all at Heathrow is injurious to public health, BAA and the DFT can move NOX sensors all day long, they can claim new technologyb that is not even on a drawing board is just around teh corner as much as they like, Hoon can conmsider removing alternation and loose all those marginal seats in West london at a snap. I will fight for the right for my child not to get Asthma so that BA and BAA can compete with anybody! No increase of any kind at Heathrow - a new solution - looking to a new location is necessary and every right thinking sole knows it! The grubby compromise of smaller airports all around London is just that Political compromise - a corageous central;isation that protects the people of London from noise, particulates and NOX emmissions and also concentrates all to the Esat is the only real viable long term solution - This cowardly government knows it and with Mandelson involved we can guarantee the highest bidder will get what they want!
- Christian Ball, London, UK
Develop Heathrow's third runway and let's get on with it. Boris Johnson should be asking to bring forward this London infrastructure project rather than seeking to impede it in this economic crisis.
- Atma Singh, London UK
Boris already put rest of the transport on the bonfire now he want to put the new runway on it.
- Andy, London
Will Boris stop wasting time and money on this.
Expand Heathrow, jobs are needed. What difference will a few extra aircraft make in terms of noise. If thats the argument then you should say shut the airport down totally.
- Simon, London
There is already a 3rd runway in Gatwick, a fourth at City and a 5th and 6th at Luton and Stansted if you really want to stretch the point.
Why not build fast rail links between them all? That will still keep engineers and architects off the dole, whilst keeping the nimbies and greenies happy.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
