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Airports Commission Closes Door To Deliberate
20 - Mar - 2015

Airports Commission closes door to deliberate

 

So, the public consultation into which airport gets to expand has finally come to an end and as Sir Howard Davies and the other members of the Airports Commission close their doors to deliberate on their decision, campaigners for and against either Heathrow or Gatwick have done all they can to sway the decision.

In reality, it comes down to a battle between the South East’s two major airports; if you believe what you read in the press, you would be hard pressed not to conclude that Heathrow has more than an edge over Gatwick.  A large of campaigners from Back Heathrow, a pro-Heathrow expansion group, stood in front of the Houses of Parliament to hand in their response this week, complete with posters and a placard denoting 80,000 people that support expansion at the airport.  At the same time, and not so readily reported in the press, the anti-Heathrow expansion group, HACAN, visited No. 10 Downing Street to deliver a letter to the Prime Minister, reminding him to stand up to his promise over Heathrow – prior to the last election, he proclaimed ‘no ifs; no buts; there will be no third runway.’.

On the other side of the coin is Gatwick; it’s been a difficult week for the airport as councils, villages, MPs and many local people, notwithstanding easyJet’s announcement that they are also opposing – strange, considering they are the biggest airline that use Gatwick - are opposing a second runway at the airport.  East Grinstead Town Council said no; Pulborough residents launch their own anti-Gatwick group and voted no; Sevenoaks District Council opposed the plan, concerned about aircraft noise; and the list goes on…

As well as for and against campaigners, the CAA also submitted their report on airport expansion, and by all accounts the regulator didn’t hold back!  Stating that more needs to be done to win over the communities who baulk at the thought of more aircraft noise, adding that the bosses at Heathrow and Gatwick need to dig deeper into their pockets and pay a decent compensation.  MP Fiona McTaggart also sent a report to the Airports Commission advising that ‘tough’ conditions will need to be met, including improved rail links and limits on the level of noise, should Heathrow be granted expansion.

Now, it’s a waiting process; the Airports Commission are due to deliver their decision in May following the general election – could the decision go against the tide?  It will be interesting to see the reaction of whichever government is in residence at No. 10 Downing Street!

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