Tonight:
9°c
I challenge Brown to open debate on Heathrow, says Boris
Pippa Crerar, City Hall Editor15.01.09
BORIS Johnson today challenged Gordon Brown to a head-to-head public debate on his plans for a third runway at Heathrow.
The Mayor issued the Prime Minister an invitation to a public meeting on airport expansion to be held in Hillingdon next week.
He has already invited Heathrow owner BAA — which has agreed to attend — and transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick, who turned him down.
Mr Johnson has vowed to lead the battle against the third runway proposal along with environmentalists and west London residents, despite the Government's decision to go ahead.
He has already pledged £15,000 for legal action against the Government and has launched a feasibility study into the prospect of building an alternative airport in the Thames Estuary.
“I throw down the gauntlet to Gordon Brown to publicly defend this deeply undemocratic decision in Hillingdon — a community that is being asked to live with its consequences,” he said.
“There has never been a proper public debate on this issue and now the Government has decided to proceed, there clearly has to be.”
Mr Johnson added: “This is a truly devastating blow for millions of Londoners whose lives are now set to be blighted by massive increases in air pollution and noise.
“The Government has singularly failed to deliver a convincing case for expansion throughout or adequate solutions for the nightmare problems this would cause.
“No amount of sweeteners in the shape of transport infrastructure will fundamentally alter the fact that the Government is hell-bent on exacerbating a planning error of the Forties and that Heathrow is not fit for purpose.”
Mr Johnson confirmed this week that he was prepared to challenge the Government in court if it “failed to see sense” and gave BAA the green
light to apply for a third runway.
He insisted that Heathrow expansion was a “doomed and impractical” project that would “seriously erode” Londoners' quality of life.
Along with other critics he said the third runway would breach the EU's pollution targets and increase congestion in west London.
But the Government claims that, despite the environmental concerns and the complaints of people living near Heathrow, expansion is vital for jobs, economic growth, investment and the long-term competitiveness of Britain.
Mr Johnson revealed he was already taking legal advice on whether the proper processes had been followed ahead of the announcement and
predicted that a third runway would never be built because of legal, environmental and practical factors.
