A decision from the government over whether or not to expand Heathrow or Gatwick airport is thought to be imminent, with the Prime Minister having said that an announcement will be made before the end of 2015.
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A third runway at Heathrow Airport is expected to be given the go-ahead by a Cabinet sub-committee this week, according to a report. “We heard evidence that those targets might be met in theory, but at present there is a policy vacuum and evidence-based scepticism as to whether they can be met in practice”, said Mr Irranca-Davies. “Increased pollution should certainly not be permitted on the grounds in that other areas of London are even more polluted”.
The committee also said legal air pollution limits would be required as well as a ban on night flights while the airport would also have to prove it would be quieter with three runways than two.
Labour Mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan said: “Expanding Heathrow would have a devastating impact on Londoners’ health, and would be a betrayal from the Tories who ruled it out before”. “It is clear this project is undeliverable – on noise, on air quality, on costs – it fails every test”.
London’s Heathrow Airport is one of several sites considered in recent years to address a purported need to raise the UK’s airport capacity. It’s time to draw stumps.
“That was the policy, it remains the policy – and a very good policy it is too”.
On air quality, the committee noted concerns that the commission’s interpretation of the European Union air quality directive implied that significant increases in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) resulting from Heathrow expansion would be allowable due to worse performance elsewhere in London.
The Independent reports that the sub-committee is thought to have added new restrictions on noise and pollution – along with a pledge not to allow a fourth runway – “in a bid to soften the blow on those campaigning against the expansion of Heathrow”.
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Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate said the report highlights the many “environmental hurdles” facing Heathrow.
