John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport, said: “The Airports Commission, announced by the Prime Minister three years ago, made a unanimous and unambiguous recommendation in July for Heathrow expansion”.
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But McLoughlin on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday the rejected the suggestion.
But he insisted it was important to carry out more research on the environmental impact. We support the assertion made in the Government’s statement that the United Kingdom requires more capacity and the AOA is clear that aviation can grow sustainably in future whilst delivering for United Kingdom plc. “We can develop our business via Madrid, which has spare capacity, and Dublin, where there are plans for a cost-effective and efficient second runway”, the chief executive said. “I am confident we can meet tough environmental standards”. Many observers see the latest development as a major boost to Gatwick’s ambition to build a second runway.
BCC DG John Longworth said: “Business will question whether ministers are delaying critical upgrades to our national infrastructure for legitimate reasons, or to satisfy short-term political interests. Ministers need to stop prevaricating and get on with doing what the country sorely needs”.
Let Britain Fly director Gavin Hayes said: “Having already spent three years and millions of pounds of taxpayer money looking at the issue in a Commission, including extensive analysis on the economic and environmental impact, this further delay is unacceptable”.
“We have known for years that a decision to expand airport capacity was needed”. It would seem now that politics is getting in the way of the decision that is best for the United Kingdom economy. Air quality, for example, is a public health priority and obviously the legal safeguards around it can not be wished away.
Simon Clydesdale, a campaigner for the environmental group, Greenpeace UK, said: “Neither Heathrow nor the Davies Commission have managed to convince anybody that they can build a new runway without breaking pollution and carbon limits, which would be illegal – no ifs, no buts”.
“To get to that position we need the government definitively to rule out Heathrow expansion”, he said in a statement”.
“We have campaigned for many years for additional capacity at Heathrow Airport”.
The shortlist of proposals being considered by the Government also features a plan to extend the existing northern runway at Heathrow to form the equivalent of two runways.
Critics also said the decision to delay was to avoid political embarrassment for Cameron and his Conservative Party.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Trade unions and businesses stand ready to work together to deliver the Heathrow expansion recommended by the Airports Commission”.
Cllr Carwyn Cox, cabinet member for environmental services, said: “It is disappointing that the Government has delayed making a decision as our residents have been waiting for a long time and are seeking clarity over the situation”.
“It is vital that a decision on a new runway is now taken within months”.
Although the delay was widely expected, Cameron immediately faced fury from business groups and accusations from Labour that he had ducked a hard decision on infrastructure to help the chances of Zac Goldsmith, the Tory London mayoral candidate, who is a fierce opponent of Heathrow expansion.
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Wingate stressed that the decision is about balancing the economy and the environment.
