Member Article

New public consultation could hinder Heathrow and Gatwick expansion plans

The chairman of the Airports Commission has launched a fresh public consultation on the proposed expansions of Gatwick or Heathrow airports.

Sir Howard Davies will tell both airports today that he wants to hear the public’s opinion on how the proposals will affect air quality before he makes his final ruling later this year, according the The Telegraph.

The public consultation will allow Sir Davies to ensure that his decision is not faced with any legal challenges, the Financial Times reported.

However there are increasing concerns that the commission, which was set up by David Cameron in 2012, will delay its report yet again.

The main concern for nearby residents is noise pollution in the areas surrounding Heathrow and Gatwick.

Last month, Heathrow reported an increase in traffic of 2% to 16.4 million passengers for Q1, with profits hitting £71m compared to a loss last year.

John Holland-Kaye, chief executive officer of Heathrow, said: “Heathrow is a fantastic airport and a great front door for Britain. We’re a business that’s delivering an unrivalled passenger experience in western Europe, we’ve got over 30 airlines knocking on our door waiting to serve the UK’s hub, our world-class shareholders are lined up to privately fund expansion and with an additional runway we will create 40,000 new skilled and well-paid jobs for the local community.

We are ready to deliver the only runway that can connect all of Britain to global growth. All we need is a quick decision, so let’s get on with it.“

The construction of a third runway at Heathrow would cost an estimated £18.6bn, which would require £5.7bn from the taxpayer to improve access.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .