Zac Goldsmith says announcement delay is "good news for London"
Tory Mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith, who strongly opposes the third runway expansion and said he would resign if it gets the go-ahead, said: “I am absolutely delighted that, after much campaigning, the Government has heard the arguments, seen sense and will judge the options against an environmental test.
“We know that any airport expansion must meet our legally binding carbon, noise and air quality limits.
“There can be no doubt that in a fair contest on air quality, Heathrow will not win.
“That is good news for London. We have a massive opportunity now to remove the threat of Heathrow expansion once and for all, and to press for an intelligent approach to London’s connectivity.
“The choice has always been between an outdated model which would lead to higher costs and less choice, or investing in a network of well connected and competing airports.
“If elected mayor I will continue to make the case for the latter and bring the same focus and discipline to getting things done for Londoners.”
Heathrow CEO responds to announcement delay
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye responding to the announcement, said: “The Airports Commission, announced by the Prime Minister three years ago, made a unanimous and unambiguous recommendation in June for Heathrow expansion.
“Our new plan will connect the whole nation to global growth while providing opportunities for the local community and making Heathrow the most environmentally responsible hub airport in the world. I am confident we can meet tough environmental standards.
“We have support locally and nationally from politicians, business, trade unions and the aviation industry for Heathrow expansion. Let’s get on and build a better future for Britain.”
Council leader says announcement "deeply disappointing"
Hillingdon Council Leader Ray Puddifoot said: “The government should rule out Heathrow expansion now, not in six months time. No ifs, no buts.
“It has been proven yet again that it cannot be accommodated without resulting in unacceptable levels of noise, air pollution and destroying local communities.
“It’s deeply disappointing that our residents have to live with more uncertainly and distress while this futile debate rumbles on.”
Government issues full statement
The government has released a full press release on the airport expansion announcement.
In it, they state that the next step is to develop a package that will mitigate impact on local residents, with more work to be done on the environmental impacts.
Air quality analysis will be tested using the latest projected future concentrations of nitrogen dioxide.
The government anticipates that the test will be concluded some time in the summer.
They said that the further work will be done quickly, so that the timetable set out by the Airports Commission can be met.
'Important we get the decision right'
Speaking after the announcement, Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin said: “The case for aviation expansion is clear – but it’s vitally important we get the decision right so that it will benefit generations to come.
“We will undertake more work on environmental impacts, including air quality, noise and carbon.
“We must develop the best possible package of measures to mitigate the impacts on local people.
“We will continue work on all the shortlisted locations, so that the timetable for more capacity set out by Sir Howard is met.”
“At the first opportunity I will make a statement to the House to make clear our plans.”
'We already know Heathrow can't be the solution'
Sadiq Khan, Labour’s candidate for Mayor of London, said: “The Government are kicking the decision into the long grass to avoid embarrassing their mayoral candidate.
“We can’t afford more dithering over aviation capacity.”
“Businesses desperately need more airport capacity around London, and the Tories are letting them down. Gatwick stands ready to deliver it sooner, at a lower public expense and without the damaging impact of Heathrow expansion.
“We already know Heathrow can’t be the solution. The additional damage from air and noise pollution would mean more years of delay, while protracted legal battles are fought.
“It must be Gatwick – and we need to get on with it.”
EEF Manufacturers' Organisation left "fed up and dismayed by continued excuses"
Chris Richards, Senior Business Environment Policy Adviser at EEF Manufacturers’ organisation said: “By avoiding a tough decision, despite a well-evidenced shortlist, the government has again dithered and avoided the issue.
“Industry is fed-up and dismayed by the continued excuses and political dilly dallying.
“The indecision has handed an early Christmas gift to our competitors who recognise the vital importance to their economies of having the room and flexibility to grow air connections to major international gateways.
“This decision also raises questions around the certainty that can be attached to any future output of the National Infrastructure Commission. Manufacturers will be looking to the government to ensure greater rigour in future infrastructure policy analysis.”
Decision to be delayed until summer
Despite promising no ifs and no buts, the decision has not yet has been made by Prime Minister David Cameron and the Cabinet sub committee on whether there will be a Heathrow third runway expansion. Environmental concerns are said to be cause for the delay.
What do you think, will the decision be more indecision, Heathrow or Gatwick
Take our poll, which do you think it will be today?
How do you think the government will respond to the Davies commission?
There are many outcomes from this evening’s announcement regarding the third runway decision. Critics to David Cameron believe that the decision is largely being made on a political level.
Previously, the Prime Minister said that a decision will be made before December, but many believe the decision will be delayed in order to accommodate next year’s London Mayoral elections, as Tory candidate MP Zac Goldmsith said he will resign if a third runway was approved.
In October 2009, David Cameron said there would be no third runway, before being elected the following year. It could be that David Cameron announces that the third runway will go ahead, contradicting his election campaign.
What do you think the announcement will be this evening?
Decision expected "imminently"
As Ministers filter out of Downing Street, a decision on what the Cabinet sub committee meeting have decided is due “imminently”. Labour MP’s have made it clear they believe there will be another six month delay in making a decision, with some saying it is to protect Mayoral Candidate Zac Goldsmith from having to resign as he threatened.
Ministers begin to leave sub committee meeting
There are reports on twitter to say that Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin is the first to leave Downing Street. Mr McLoughlin was present at the meeting, which could mean a decision is expected soon.
Business leaders say Heathrow expansion is vital for prosperity of firms
Stephen Fry, CEO of the organisation which represents companies across the borough of Hounslow said: “Hounslow Chamber is proud to support small enterprises every day of the year as small businesses form the backbone of our local economy and our local community” he said.
“We all want to see them succeed and we can help them do so with a bigger and better Heathrow. It is important for us that at least one day a year that the contribution they make to our borough’s daily life is recognised.
“Heathrow is an enormously important economic asset but it is operating at full capacity and it has to grow to meet demand. The UK’s only hub airport is the front door to Britain yet it is closed to new business.”
A survey by the chamber two years ago found found that 77% of local firms which responded were in favour of a third runway and 65% were only located in the borough because of Hounslow’s proximity to Heathrow.
The chamber said Hounslow is home to more than 18,000 businesses, of which 95% are estimated to be SMEs (small or medium-sized enterprises).
Artist impressions of what the proposed new north-west runway at Heathrow Airport would look like were released in October this year. The new runway would be 3 200m long.
New hotel developments would replace what would be lost to the runway.
An underground passenger system to cut down travel times between terminals has also been included in the impressions.
In a statement released by the airport at the time, bosses said the new plans could be a catalyst for an M25 with 14 lanes, as well as give the airport the 2040 people capacity they think it needs.
What has your west London MP said about the expansion?
Brentford & Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury, spoke out against expansion at a recent parliamentary debate and said: “The Heathrow Runway 3 option is the most costly, most complex and highest risk of the three schemes that the Airport Commissions believes are deliverable.
“Heathrow should be Better, not Bigger. I recognise the significant local and national benefits Heathrow brings to the economy, I oppose expansion there because I want to see no increase in the noise and pollution the airport already causes, and I want to work with the airport on reducing those negative impacts.”
Andy Slaughter MP for Hammersmith added: “The impact of the third runway will be felt not just in Hayes and Harlington and Hammersmith, of course, but right across London and the home counties.
“The noise figures are well known. Heathrow is stretching credibility to claim that the number of people affected by noise will fall when 250,000 extra planes are using the third runway.”
Boris Johnson for Uxbridge and Ruislip said: “As I say, by 2030, Heathrow runway 3 would be full and the pressure would be on. As my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith) rightly said in his excellent speech, the pressure would be overwhelming, come 2030, for us to build a fourth runway at Heathrow, which would be a total environmental catastrophe. Where would we be then? What would we have done?”
Dr Rupa Huq MP for Ealing Central and Acton, added: “In expanding Heathrow, there are more snakes than ladders.
“We know that Heathrow already breaches the legal limits on air quality, and that there is insufficient reassurance in this report to address that.
“Conversely, Gatwick, an option which is still on the table according to Davies, has never broken legal air quality limits, and would remain within them even with an extra runway.
“I think the figures are that 18,000 people would be newly affected by expansion at Gatwick, but 320,000 people would be affected by Heathrow—17 times more.”
Zac Goldsmith MP for Richmond Park said there was an overwhelming noise cost to residents if expansion went ahead at Heathrow.
He said: “Heathrow is already Europe’s biggest noise polluter by far—720,000 people are already affected, and a third runway would increase flights from 480,000 to around 740,000 a year and affect well over 1 million people.
“In addition, people would lose half the respite periods, which they treasure, because those would be cut from eight hours to four hours.
Earlier this week, Mr Goldsmith said he would resign in January over the Heathrow issue, but has since told the BBC that he “regretted” saying this.
Anti-expansion van has toured London this week to rally against Heathrow runway
Groups opposed to expansion of the airport clubbed together to pay for an advertising van, emblazoned with prime minister David Cameron’s famous promise “no ifs, no buts, no third runway”, which toured the capital for three days.
On the second day of the protest, the van was accompanied along the route of the flight path for the proposed new runway by a car playing aircraft noise.
Speaking over the aircraft noise at the Harmondsworth stop on Friday, MP John McDonnell told villagers he would take legal action if the Government gives a third runway the go-ahead.
“There is no way the third runway will be built. There’s no way that we’ll allow them to blight our homes and demolish our homes and render 10,000 people potentially homeless,” added Labour’s shadow chancellor.
Heathrow decision to be made today
Downing Street have announced that the Prime Minister has said a decision will be made today, but critics claim it is six months away.
Mr Cameron is in a Cabinet sub committee this afternoon with senior cabinet members including chancellor George Osborne and Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin.
Officials at Number 10 have said a decision will be made, although it may not be the definitive answer.
Labour MP’s have already complained to say that Mr Cameron is using the Commons environmental audit committee’s reports as an excuse to hold off making a decision.
Mayoral candidate MP Sadiq Khan said it is a Tory ploy to protect Zac Goldsmith’s Mayoral campaign.
