ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on proposals to expand Heathrow airport.

Stakeholder response: London First

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Baroness Valentine, chief executive of London First, said: "The strength of London’s economy depends on its success as a world city and for many business sectors, that means being able to fly to meet their customers, peers and suppliers. They need to fly. 

"But London’s business leaders have a highly responsible approach to the local and global environmental implications of aviation. They would make Heathrow expansion conditional on facing up to those implications.
 
"With the right investment in an extra runway and additional measures to confront its environmental impact, alongside better use of air space and slots, Heathrow can once again be the best airport in the world."

Stakeholder response: KPMG

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A KPMG spokesperson said: "Heathrow runway expansion is needed – for economic and environmental reasons. Current capacity constraints are acting as a break on London’s economic competitiveness and are often forcing incoming aircraft to stack over the South East, encircling Heathrow and burning up much more fuel while emitting more CO2 than necessary, as well as the longer queues for departing aeroplanes.

As the government say, though, there must be clear environmental conditions laid down on the overall impact of the third runway in terms of noise, CO2 emissions and the wider carbon footprint in terms of journeys to and from Heathrow. 

"Any environmental analysis needs also to take a wider view of what the impact of no additional runway capacity would be:

• Further encroachment into the night – with greater noise disturbance, more road traffic and more inconvenience for passengers.
  
  
• Continuing at 100 per cent capacity on two runways within current hours forcing growth into regional airports leading to proliferation, spider’s web of flight routes away from a more rational hub and spoke network. That will mean many more flights of an average shorter distance with smaller, less environmentally efficient aircraft.

"We also must take account of the impact on London and UK plc which requires a world-class reliable airport as a hub. But more must be done to cut back on short-haul flights and to ensure that ground transportation is as environmentally friendly as possible.

"Areas that must be addressed in considering the consultation include:

• A congestion charge for Heathrow to discourage private cars and reduce ground emissions. This will be easy to implement and proceeds should be ring fenced to be invested in improved public transport.
  
  
• Reducing car parking space at Heathrow to help reduce the concrete footprint.
  
  
• Direct rail links from Heathrow to Reading and the West (Bristol, Oxford, South west and South Wales) and Gatwick and Brighton must be a condition of a third runway. Neither of these links are particularly difficult. Inter-connectivity with Gatwick by a fast reliable train service is critical to improve inter-operability.
  
  
• There must be a commitment by airlines and BAA to promote rail travel for short haul routes (under three hours by train) including Manchester, Paris and Brussels. They should only be promoted for connectivity purposes (ie those flying in from long-haul destinations using Heathrow as a hub).
  
  
• All BAA, airline and contractor staff should sign up to a Green Travel plan banning commuting in by private car to Heathrow (except for blue badges) at the same time their should be some through the night services to Heathrow maybe by running the less expensive Heathrow Connect.
  
  
• BAA and airlines should undertake to promote high-speed train connectivity, with integrated ticketing for fly and train onward journeys again to Brussels, Manchester and Paris and other destinations.
  
  
• More thought must be put into the wider Heathrow area environment both to reposition some of the lost heritage buildings and their communities and to make better use of reclaimed concrete areas (for reducing car parking) for leisure, recreation and environmental purposes. Currently, the area is seen as very unattractive for overnight stays or a short trip while awaiting a connection but some good planning and use of the surrounding reservoirs and waterways could help make it more of an enjoyable stop beyond a shopping experience! Again, emphasis should be on walking, cycling and public transport with only local access roads.

"By seizing such opportunities, Heathrow can again be a world leader and become an environmental cause celebre rather than a pariah!"

Stakeholder response: Unite



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Brendan Gold, Unite (TGWU) national officer, said: "Unite welcomes the DfT's consultation on the future of Heathrow. Standing still is not an option.

"The expansion of Heathrow is absolutely essential for the creation of quality jobs in the civil aviation industry and maintaining Heathrow's position as an international hub. Heathrow is a major economic driver of London's economy and the UK as a whole. Unless Heathrow expands this prime position is under threat."

Brian Boyd, Unite (Amicus) national officer, said: "London is in grave danger of losing out to Frankfurt, Paris and Amsterdam unless we push ahead with a third runway.

"We recognise that there are environmental challenges which need to be addressed but we need to have a balanced debate on this issue. As the UK's main civil aviation union we intend to participate fully in this consultation and we will bring the views and opinions of our broad membership to this debate."