HEATHROW expansion was thrown back into the spotlight on Friday after an influential committee of MPs called on the Government to push ahead with a third runway.
MPs on the Transport Committee rejected calls for a new hub airport east of London and urged the Government to permit the expansion of Heathrow where a third runway "is long overdue".
The committee also called on HS2 to be linked to Heathrow, something which the Government put on hold earlier this year when it stopped short of endorsing a spur from the mainline in Ickenham to the airport.
Launching the report of an inquiry that examined the UK Government’s Aviation Strategy, Louise Ellman, chairman of the House of Commons’ Transport Committee also said the committee found an Estuary hub airport was not viable.
Mrs Ellman said: "Heathrow – the UK’s only hub airport – has been short of capacity for a decade and is currently operating at full capacity.
We conclude that a third runway at Heathrow is necessary, but also suggest that a four-runway proposal may have merit, especially if expanding to locate two new runways westwards from the current site could curb the noise experienced by people affected under the flight path"
John McDonnell MP, who represents Hayes and Harlington in which Heathrow Airport is located, said that the outcome of report was expected but ultimately meaningless.
He said: "The Transport Select Committee’s advocacy of Heathrow expansion is totally predictable. It has been supporting the expansion for over 30 years so this report is hardly surprising. The real decision over Heathrow expansion will be at the next election, based upon the Davies Commission."
The report came out in the same week that the pro-business lobby group London First called for more flights at Heathrow.
It said the airport should employ mixed mode – using both its runways for take offs and landings – as a short term solution.
This would remove the relief from aircraft noise given to people living close to Heathrow when the runways switch operations at 3pm each day, but London First says even with the increase it wants, the number of people affected by aircraft noise levels could be reduced, although an independent noise regulator with enforcement powers should be established by Parliament.
Heathrow Airport is expected to submit its own ideas to the Davies Commission on aviation capacity imminently.
Hillingdon Council is consulting its residents via a referendum on airport expansion, which ends tomorrow (Thursday). Go to http://heathrow.mi-vote.com/ to vote, using your unique ID number.
