Tory Peer Criticises Government's Stance on Airport Expansion
The Government's refusal to allow expansion at London's main airports will damage the the UK economy according to one of the Conservative party's biggest donors.
The plan for a third runway at Heathrow was backed by business and the Labour party but the coalition Government cancelled this idea in May last year. Now a Conservative peer and one of the Conservative party's biggest donors is saying new runways are needed not only at Heathrow but also at Gatwick and Stansted.
Lord Glendonbrook said "the idea of having no development of existing airports in the South-East is going to be hugely damaging to the country and to the economy. I think there is a strong and sound, both environmental and economic case to continue building at Heathrow rather than [a new airport] and also we will of course need another runway at Stansted and another runway at Gatwick at some stage in the future."
So are anti-expansion campaigners worried that a Tory donor may have some influence yet on the Government's aviation policy?
John Stewart, a member of Hacan, an anti-expansion campaigner said this of Lord Glendonbrook's comments, "The fact that he is a major backer of the Conservative party will mean that people in the party will listen to what he has to say, but the party has made its view quite clear: no new runways in the south-east".
Transport Minister, Theresa Villiers had these comments to make, "Our immediate priority is making our airports better within their current capacity but we're also undertaking a major exercise to look at how we build a sustainable future".
In a few days, Heathrow airport will start a trial involving the use of both runways for take-offs and landings which anti-expansion campaigners claim will just create more noise for Londoners living below the flight paths. But they're still confident the battle over the third runway has been won.
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