The Airports Commission has backed a third runway at Heathrow in a report announced on Wednesday (1 July).

Sir Howard Davies's report said that the new runway should come with severe restrictions to reduce the environmental and noise effects.

Campaigners for and against the third runway have been sharing their opinions.

Rob Gray, Back Heathrow’s Campaign Co-ordinator, is 'delighted' by the announcement: "More than 100,000 local people already support our campaign to back expansion at the UK's only hub airport.

"After decades of dithering, today's politicians must now come together in the national interest and legislate for a new runway at Heathrow. If they fail to do so, this debate will happen all over again in five years time."

The report stated that a third runway will add £147 billion in economic growth and 70,000 jobs by 2050.

Stop Heathrow Expansion, a campaign group that has worked tirelessly to protect the Heathrow villages - Harmondsworth, Harlington and Sipson - say a third runway would destroy at least 783 homes.

A spokesperson for SHE, said: "We will step up our opposition. The people of London and the surrounding areas impacted by its noise and pollution deserve a break.

"We have made a strong case against Heathrow expansion and will never sit back and allow the decision makers to ignore the facts."

SHE campaigner Christine Taylor, who spoke at the Commission event in Sipson last December, will attend a special briefing at 11am with Sir Howard Davies.

John Stewart Chair of HACAN, said, “Heathrow will face the mother of all challenges to meet the conditions for a third runway set down by Davies and key members of the Cabinet remain opposed to Heathrow expansion.

"Faced with these problems there is still no guarantee the Government will back a third runway when it makes its final decision later this year.”

John McDonnell, MP for Hayes & Harlington took to Twitter to air his disappointment at the annoucement.

A third runway at Heathrow is said to connect Britain to 40 new destinations.

Hounslow Chamber of Commerce has praised the Davies Commission in its clear decision for a third runway and now calls on the government to honour its promises made when the independent commission was set up three years ago.

Chamber CEO Stephen Fry said: "We are delighted that the Commission has realised the weight of the economic and business arguments in favour of expansion at Heathrow and supported the thousands of businesses and people working in the Heathrow economy.

"My only concern is that the Commission’s findings and recommendations will be ignored.

"It has taken a lot of work and courage to get this far from ordinary people who run ordinary small local businesses.

"They must not be let down and abandoned."

The report establishes Heathrow is best places to meet the growing need for airport capacity in the south-east of England and vitally the desperate need to tap into emerging international markets which are currently under served from the UK.

Hounslow Council leader Steve Curran

Leader of Hounslow Borough Council, councillor Steve Curran said: “While we have been opposed to a bigger Heathrow, either by the addition of a third runway or a relaxation on runway operations and night flights, we nevertheless want a better and successful Heathrow.

"But we will continue to push for the very best noise protection and pollution control measures for our residents – and in particular, our schools.

“We welcome the report’s recommendation that the new runway should come with severe restrictions to reduce the environmental and noise effects, including a noise levy, and that night flights would be banned."

Heathrow's proposal is for a new full length runway to the north-west of the current northern runway at the airport.

Ruth Cadbury MP Brentford & Isleworth who has campaigned against Heathrow expansion for more than 12 years, said: "Not only does this mean more noise, more pollution and more congestion for West London, but the measures needed to bring airport pollution within EU Air Quality limits are simply unachievable.

"I am asking the Government to reject the Heathrow expansion proposal and look at Gatwick where an additional runway could be delivered for a fraction of the cost and affecting a fifth of the number of people."

Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith
Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith

Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park & North Kingston, who has opposed expansion at Heathrow was frustrated by the Commission's decision, and has accused Davies of making a decision years ago then spending £20m of public money to justify it.

Mr Goldsmith said: "Against all the available evidence, he is effectively proposing that we spend vast sums of taxpayer money subsidising the creation of a huge foreign-owned monopoly.

"It is hugely disappointing that he has ignored the key evidence he received in the course of his work.

"On every level, Heathrow expansion is the wrong answer."

The Commission said it had reached a "unanimous" decision to recommend the proposal for a new Northwest Runway at Heathrow Airport, with significant measures to address environmental and community impacts.

It has urged the government to support the delivery of plans in its entirety.

Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye

Welcoming the decision, John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport said: "Expanding Heathrow will keep Britain as one of the world’s great trading nations, right at the heart of the global economy.

"Our new plans have been designed around the needs of local communities and will meet carbon, air quality and noise targets, and provides the greatest benefit to the UK’s connectivity and its long term economic growth.

“We want to ensure that those most affected by expansion get the biggest benefits from expansion and are treated fairly.

"Tens of thousands of new, skilled careers at the airport for local people, 10,000 apprenticeships, the opportunity to end youth unemployment in local boroughs.

"For Hounslow, Heathrow expansion will offer: the potential to eradicate youth unemployment by delivering skills, training and apprenticeship opportunities; an extended, world-class noise insulation offer; enable increased public transport through expanded local bus services; and integrated cycle paths.

"The Commission has backed a positive and ambitious vision for Britain.

"We will now work with Government to deliver it."

Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate

Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate said that it was "still in the race" despite the announcement.

He said: “The Commission’s report makes clear that expansion at Gatwick is deliverable.

“It is for the Commission to make a recommendation but it is of course for the Government to decide.

"So we now enter the most important stage of the process.

“Gatwick will give the country the economic benefits it needs and at the same time impact far less people.

"It is quicker simpler and quieter. Above all - after decades of delay - it can actually happen.”

Downing Street officials say they want to digest the report properly, without making "a snap judgement".

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