Turbulent times ahead as Heathrow expansion plan outlined (From Your Local Guardian)

Turbulent times ahead as Heathrow expansion plan outlined

1:26pm Thursday 29th November 2007 in

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Spelthorne's MP warned that house prices could come crashing down unless Heathrow expands.

David Wilshire's comments came after Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly announced the start of a consultation and released a study saying a third runway and sixth terminal could be built without breaching noise and pollution limits.

Conservative MP David Wilshire said: "Heathrow desperately needs more runway capacity to avoid losing routes, airlines and jobs.

"The problems of over-crowding and delay are doing serious damage.

"House values are also threatened as a prosperous Heathrow pushes prices up rather than down."

The three-month long consultation, which will bring together the biggest coalition against airport expansion in UK history, will seek public support for what is known as "mixed mode" - a landing schedule which would see the airport's two existing runways run at full capacity, something which Mr Wilshire opposes.

Currently planes switch runways at 3pm every day to give residents under the flight path half a day's rest from the noise.

The number of flights could jump by 80,000 per year if this practice ended.

A third runway would boost the capacity to 800,000 flights per year, compared with 473,000 last year.

Anti-expansion campaigners said it would lead to a breach in EU air pollution limits.

John Stewart, chairman of action group Hacan ClearSkies, said: "Never has any Government faced such opposition to expand an airport.

"Heathrow has become the symbol in the fight against climate change."

Surrey's Chamber of Commerce said the economic case for expansion was clear and the Government must deliver the expansion.

Len Goss, president of Surrey Chambers of Commerce, said: "The British economy is being held back by transport infrastructure that is not fit for purpose. Expansion is necessary to keep the country competitive.

"Continental airports have far bigger capacities and the UK is in danger of losing out on being a major hub for international flights."

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