As the Airport Commission prepares its final recommendation on Heathrow and Gatwick’s expansion there has been a chorus of disapproval against Heathrow from Government leaders.
Richmond MP Zac Goldsmith launched a campaign recently to alert people to the possible impact London residents will face if Heathrow’s runway expansion goes ahead. He said that the airport is already the biggest noise polluter in Europe and the expansion would only increase those noise levels. Thousands more London residents would suffer as a result, he claimed. Senior tories including Boris Johnson joined Goldsmith in the campaign and have leant their voices in opposition. Johnson reminded David Cameron of his pledge in 2010 to oppose the expansion. Johnson has also promised to lie down in front of bulldozers should the expansion go ahead.
Jenny Jones from the Green Party opposes both Heathrow and Gatwick’s expansion plans. However the Airport Commission will recommend one of the airport’s and it will then be up to Government ministers to decide. Many Tory MP’s feel forced into voting for Gatwick despite being disagreeable to any expansion. Gatwick is seen as the lesser of two evil’s and Boris Johnson has said that while Gatwick is not an “optimal” choice, the expansion at Heathrow would be “far, far the worse option”.
Gavin Hayes, the director of the ‘Let Britain Fly’ group has warned that MP’s should not turn the debate into a “political football”. He has said that the decision needs to be made upon proper evidence. The Airports Commission, which is independent despite being set up by David Cameron in 2012, has said that it is still possible for noise to be reduced should Heathrow’s expansion go ahead. This was backed up by a spokesperson for Heathrow who said that the Airport Commission is made up of objective and technical experts. He confirmed that Heathrow would be able to reduce noise despite the proposed expansion and called a noise level map published by the Conservatives as “inaccurate and unhelpful to local residents.”
The Airport Commission should have their final recommendation soon and it is expected that Ministers will then vote on which airport expands its runways before December.