The Airport Commission consultation report on air quality is due to be completed very soon, and within that there will be a recommendation to the government on the most suitable airport for expansion, Heathrow or Gatwick.
Many have complained that not enough time was set up for the consultation on air quality to take place, happening only weeks before a final decision is made. London’s Mayor Boris Johnson who opposes the expansion at Heathrow has called the air quality consultation as rushed and deeply flawed. Residents and local councils are concerned that the air and road traffic will be increased by the expansion plans as a new runway will extend the number of flights to and from the airports.
Both Gatwick and Heathrow are keen to minimise any complaints and stand by their expansion plans. They are also defending their plans as opposed to their rival. Stewart Wingate, the Chief Executive of Gatwick has now claimed that an expansion at Heathrow would be illegal. He has said that Heathrow would be breaching the European Union regulations on air quality. Heathrow, he said, is already in breach of these regulations, unlike Gatwick who have never breached air quality limits. However a spokesman for Heathrow has said that the M4 is to blame for the breach of air quality regulations, rather than the airport itself, where the polluted areas in question contain very little airport traffic.
Stewart Wingate has suggested that a possibility of legal action could take place from themselves and others if Heathrow won government backing. He claims that an expansion at Gatwick is more reasonable as they abide by the EU’s air quality limits. This is despite concerns from West Sussex Council about the Gatwick expansion. They have been defending the worries of residents in Crawley and Horsham who are concerned about the worsened air quality near homes and schools. It has been suggested by one counsellor that up to 21,000 properties could be affected by air pollution if Gatwick expands. The Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign has also claimed that the Airports Commission is underestimating future pollution levels from the expansion. Meanwhile the Green Party is concerned that an expansion to either airport would contribute to air pollution, saying that the Airports Commission underestimates the effects from either expansion.
Both Gatwick and Heathrow have promised to meet the legal requirements on air quality. Whilst they bolster their arguments in defence of their plans, local people will be keeping an eye to the skies, as well as the news, hoping for the right thing to happen for their communities.