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BAA to give up on third Heathrow runway
11.10.2009 (Sunday Times)
by
See also NoTRAG press release 11.10.2009
GOVERNMENT NOW NEEDS TO GIVE HONEST ANSWER AFTER BAA FINALLY PUTS RESIDENTS FIRST
“Senior BAA figures have also told the Tories the company will cease to fight for the third runway if they form the next government. “ (1)
In a shock turnaround, BAA has apparently shelved plans to devastate homes and communities across West London and put residents first.
For over seven years, local residents with the support of Hillingdon Council, local MPs and people from across the South East, have been actively campaigning against a third runway at Heathrow. The plans for the airport’s expansion, equal in size to Gatwick(2), being built in the borough of Hillingdon, represents the most unprecedented social and environmental threat for generations.
Following the Government’s unpopular decision in January this year, hundreds of homes would be demolished; villages, schools and livelihoods destroyed and thousands left to a life of blight across West London and the Home Counties.
Geraldine Nicholson, Chairman of NoTRAG said: “For over seven years, residents have pulled together, come together and campaigned together to stop a third runway. This may be our moment and a victory for future generations.
She added: “If BAA can swiftly drop their plans following the party conference
season then this clearly shows there has never been a compelling case for a third
runway. I now call on the current Government to follow BAA’s welcome decision
and abandon its craving for a third runway at Heathrow and at long last put residents
first.”
Notes for Editors –
(1) BAA to give up on third Heathrow runway – Sunday Times 11
October 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6869676.ece
(2) Gatwick Airport is the busiest single runway airport in the world.
NoTRAG is an active residents' organisation, supported by the London Borough
of Hillingdon, which is opposed to the building of a third runway at Heathrow
Airport.
see also
Comment from CRASH in Chiswick:
11.10.2009
The coalition against expansion has been working hard to garner support and today
it was reported in The Sunday Times that BAA has finally bowed to opposition and will not submit a planning application for the third runway before the general
election. Furthermore, it will not sign any large contracts to "bounce" a future
Conservative government into accepting it, nor will it fight for the third runway
if the Conservatives win the election.
On the face of it this is excellent news. The government's attempts to speed up the process by rushing through the Planning Act last year and pressing BAA to open the third runway and sixth terminal by 2015 have come to naught and leaves its aviation strategy in tatters. But ask yourself this question: Why would BAA give a commitment now not to press for the third runway?
On the face of it this is excellent news. The government's attempts to speed up the process by rushing through the Planning Act last year and pressing BAA to open the third runway and sixth terminal by 2015 have come to naught and leaves its aviation strategy in tatters. But ask yourself this question: Why would BAA give a commitment now not to press for the third runway?
Sir John Egan, its former boss, had said that Terminal Five would not add to
pressure for a third runway. In January this year, BAA admitted: "That's what
he had to say to get permission for Terminal Five." Heathrow's history is a history of deception and BAA has a habit of saying what it thinks it needs to say to get its way,
so has anything really changed?
We suspect that BAA believes it is futile to be pushing for the third runway when there could be a new administration next year which is hostile to the idea. Last week's announcement that the Conservatives will make a manifesto commitment to scrap plans for Heathrow expansion was the clincher. Better to change lobbying strategy now, start to build bridges with the potential new administration and revisit expansion alternatives at a later date. There are other battles to fight, such as the Competition Commission's forced breakup of BAA's London monopoly.
We suspect that BAA believes it is futile to be pushing for the third runway when there could be a new administration next year which is hostile to the idea. Last week's announcement that the Conservatives will make a manifesto commitment to scrap plans for Heathrow expansion was the clincher. Better to change lobbying strategy now, start to build bridges with the potential new administration and revisit expansion alternatives at a later date. There are other battles to fight, such as the Competition Commission's forced breakup of BAA's London monopoly.
But one thing is certain: the beast will not be satisfied. It is in BAA's DNA
to push for more and more capacity.
It appears that BAA's push for the third runway is only on hold until the election.
They will only cease the fight if the Conservatives win. Don't kid yourselves
that BAA won't still be working ceaselessly with the DfT until then.
We will believe the campaign is over when all political parties state unequivocally that there will be no further expansion of Heathrow.
We will believe the campaign is over when all political parties state unequivocally that there will be no further expansion of Heathrow.
So while we welcome today's news we remain cautious. BAA's history is a history of broken promises. We don't need another.
(11th October 2009)
Copyright AirportWatch, 2004