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Hoon: Heathrow study on pollution 'over-cautious'
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent05.01.09
GEOFF Hoon has cleared the way for expansion of Heathrow airport by branding the Government's own warnings over pollution "over-cautious".
The Transport Secretary has disputed a key finding of his officials in the risk register regarding the proposals to allow the west London airport to grow.
His stance will fuel the belief that Mr Hoon, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson will override the concerns of other Cabinet ministers to give the go-ahead for a third runway at Heathrow and greater use of the existing runways.
The register, published in October 2007, revealed that "mitigation measures identified to achieve air quality targets are too costly or impractical to implement, or politically unacceptable". It concluded that the impact of this being the case would be "high", and the likelihood of it happening as "medium".
Mr Hoon insisted in a letter to Conservative MP for Putney Justine Greening that the standard practice in compiling such documents was to describe the "combined residual risk" as high. "However, a risk register is only a snapshot at a particular point in time and should be interpreted alongside other evidence," he added.
"With hindsight, the October entry looks over-cautious."
The Transport Secretary insisted that the risks identified applied - not to a third runway - but only to changing regulations to permit take-offs and landings on both runways throughout the day, rather than alternating their use.
Local residents and environmentalists, through, believe that another runway would also add to breaches of nitrogen dioxide levels.
Ms Greening said: "A future Conservative government will cancel Heathrow expansion plans, but clearly the current Government is hellbent on expansion at whatever the costs to London communities and the environment. It is deeply irresponsible."
Meanwhile, a poll for Greenpeace found that Labour could lose at least four seats at the next general election on the back of anger over a third runway. Almost a quarter of voters in parts of west London said that they would be less likely to vote Labour if the airport was allowed to expand, though one in 10 said they would be more likely to back Mr Brown for supporting expansion.
The survey by ICM Research found a swing away from Labour of almost five per cent in six west London constituencies. Such a result would see the Government lose the seats of Battersea, Ealing Central and Acton, Hammersmith and Brentford and Isleworth, held by health minister Ann Keen, according to Greenpeace.
Ben Stewart, of the green group, said: "This polling should ring alarm bells at Labour headquarters."
Reader views (15)
Congratulations! exactly what we need, more planes..hey I hope the Hoon Buffoon puts fuel tax the same as rail, car and transport on the ground...that would certaintly put people off travelling on planes...it would also make it fair for people who prefer to use the trains...because right now, it most certainly isn't.
- Mia Manners, london
Why would the labour party care about the health of SE England? An economy that is not based upon welfare benefit, Gordon Brown's only area of competence.
- Brian Edmonds, Farnham Surrey
I can scarce belief this absolute tripe from Hoon. My god what a wicked evil man he is. The rumours of that comfortable EU post no doubt his 'reward' for this the next illegal act from this moral bankrupt shower of slithering politicians. I dehumanise them for a reason, they have absolutely no compasion for us humans and clearly no interest in our lives or our safety - Hoon is saying kids in london should face ever increasing asthma rates so that BA and BAA can prosper - what a monster!
- Christian Ball, London, UK
Preparing the ground for a third runway? If this goes ahead all hell will be let loose in the SE. Those opposed to the expansion of Heathrow will be joined by opponents of expansion at Stansted and London City airports. It will make the anti-war marches look like a pensioners outing. Hoon should be booted out and Jim Fitzpatrick with him. No doubt there will be a few lucrative directorships on offer to ex-Government ministers in a few years time. The revolving door is well oiled.
- Vic Danzelman, London
Hoon certainly lives up to his Whitehall nickname of Buff.
- Philip Sherwood, Harlington
Ed Milliband, have a word. Geoff Hoon appears to have missed the point. Risk of local air pollution? Was 'gravest threat to humanity' climate change missed off his official's assessment form?
- Suzy Edwards, London
ZaNuLab's 'Green' lies are finally being shown for what they are, an excuse to raise taxes under the guise of saving 'environment' the reality is they have no interest in being 'green'. The hypocrisy and lies of Brown the con-man will once again come to the fore and genuine concerns of millions of people who live under the flight path will be ignored and their views squashed underfoot by the unelected Mandelson and the unelected PM Brown. Just think of all the 'Green Taxes' we have had to put up with under this rabble from extortionate fuel duty to greedy airport departure/flight taxes. All of these stealth taxes were brought in under the 'green' credentials of ZaNuLab. Now we know!!!
- Ed, Hants
If Hoon goes for Heathrow expansion, it will be the crowning glory on the total hypocrisy of Brown and Labour to the environment and the pending global warming crisis.
- Phil Jones, London UK
So now Labour ministers have joined the swelling ranks of those who no longer believe a word this Government says......what ever happened to honesty and democracy?
- Mark, London
May Hoon be richly rewarded, with a couple of Jags, or Range Rovers perhaps, or anything that drives well home into the public consciousness that Labour is not only not working, but Labour is NOT even remotely green.
Nor competent. Nor ethical. With climate crisis less than 100 months away, airport expansion is not only crass stupidity, it is morally bankrupt. Labour, if you are not going to lead on climate - (and you clear;y are not) - then get out of the hooning way.
Resign you Labour fossils. The future is green not grey.
- Dave Hampton, Marlow
Hoon is already a discredited man. Personally, I am sure that when the Government said pollution would be a problem that was quite correct. Now they are saying the exact opposite. This latest announcement by Hoon is totally dishonest and has been made to try to justify the unjustifiable.
- Neil, Gloucestershire, England.
Well, he would say that wouldn't he-Hoon the buffoon; to announce a third runway at Heathrow is entirely predictable for a Government who despise democracy. It is likely, though, that this runway, and similar misguided plans for more runways at Stansted and Gatwick, will never happen as economic and world strategic events kicking off in 2009 render the idea a white elephant. And with any luck the whole lot in this appalling Government will be kicked out in the election we urgently need.
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK
What is the very worst scenario if [as we hope] the extra runway is not built ? What will be lost? Who will suffer? Who cares!!!.
- Roy, essex
Heathrow expansion opinions of Minister Hoon as unwise as his support for the illegal invasion of Iraq.
- Anonymous., Varies
Another feather in the cap of the labour govt. Welldone. Any other bulldozer decisions in mind. Whats all this talk about the environment, carbon footprint, climate change, recycling to reduce gas emmissions. Geoff Hoon. I salute you. You are the next Saviour of the world. Let our children and grand children pay. Who cares,we won't be around to witness the catastrpophe!. Think again Mr. Hoon! Think about the next elections too!
- Ben Sebastian, Middlesex UK
