Now that most Brits have returned to the UK after the Easter Holiday, it’s time to turn our heads back to the ongoing saga that is whether or not there will be a third runway at Heathrow. It seems every week there is a new story or allegation either for or against the idea.
This week the debate mostly focuses on the cost and the effect on public health that having a third runway would have on the residents around the airport.
According to a report published by the Mayor of London, a new runway at Heathrow poses astonishing health risks due to the effect of jet engine noise on the locals.
Approximately 43, 000 children will be exposed to aircraft noise which has been proven to adversely affect level of reading and memory. To many locals, this is one risk they’re not willing to take on such young lives.
However, there are allegations that some of the information in the health report was falsified or changed in some way to make the report more favourable.
Others prefer to focus on the opportunities a third runway would bring to the UK in general. For example, more jobs whilst constructing, and moderinising and increasing the airport’s capability to better serve the UK’s continuing growth.
There are more people traveling for business as well as pleasure and as the world’s economy continues to globalize, London is one of the hubs in the financial world and to have better access to the rest of the world as well as the world’s access to the UK is a huge argument in favour of the third runway.
Both arguments are compelling, and from a neutral stance one can see both sides, but the one clear thing is those in charge of the decision making cannot continue to dither and procrastinate, because the timeline on this definitely has a cutoff point. If they wait too long, and then decide to go ahead, it may be too little too late.