Expansion of London Heathrow Airport
Encyclopedia
The expansion of London Heathrow Airport involved the proposal by BAA Limited to build a third runway and a sixth terminal at Heathrow. The plan was supported by businesses, the aviation industry, the British Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry, the Trades Union Congress and the Labour Party
but opposed by the UK government, and Boris Johnson
, the Mayor of London
as well as by many environmental and local advocacy groups and prominent individuals. The expansion was cancelled on 12 May 2010 by the new coalition government.
In December 2006 the DFT published a progress report on the strategy which confirmed the original vision.
In November 2007 the government started a public consultation on its proposal for a slightly shorter third runway (2000 metres (2,187 yd)) and a new passenger terminal.
London Heathrow Terminal 5 opened in March 2008.
In January 2009 the Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon
announced that the UK government support the expansion of Heathrow by building a third runway (2200m) and sixth terminal building. The government will not themselves undertake construction, but encourage the airport operator (BAA) to apply for planning permission and carry out the work. The government anticipate that the new runway will be operational in 2015 or soon after.
In 2009 the government declared that they did not intend that the third runway should be used at full capacity when it is first opened. Initially the extra flights should be limited to 125,000 a year until 2020, rather than the 222,000 at full capacity.
In January 2009 mode detailed plans for the third runway were approved together with a sixth terminal and also a major new Heathrow Hub railway station
which would provide better high-speed domestic rail links to the Great Western Main Line
. Plans for a high speed rail connection direct to Heathrow were however dropped during 2010.
In March 2010 the route for High Speed 2
was announced which did not include a direct connection with Heathrow, preferring a new station at Old Oak Common
to the west of Paddington on the Crossrail
route.
On 12 May 2010, the expansion was cancelled by the new coalition government. BAA formally dropped its plans on 24 May 2010. However, industries, banks, major corporations and now Boris Johnson
, the Mayor of London
, who was previously opposed to the plans, keep pressing the coalition government to rethink their opposition to the expansion of the airport, saying that Britain will fall behind in the air trade.
, and also on a Google overlay map.
The government's argument is that Heathrow is on the brink of suffering a decline in connectivity. Heathrow’s runways are now operating at around 99% capacity, which increases delays when flights are disrupted, and risks competing European airports gaining destinations at Heathrow's expense. The government estimates that building a third runway would allow Heathrow to increase its connectivity, bringing £5.5bn of economic benefits over 2020-2080. However, the British Chambers of Commerce
estimates the economic benefits are £30 billion for the UK economy over the same time scale and has also stated that for every year the programme is delayed, it costs the UK between £900 million and £1.1 billion.
Despite the fall in passenger numbers caused by the global recession
, supporters of expansion argue that demand will increase again when the recession ends.
Some of the capacity added to Heathrow by the addition of a third runway could be used to re-instate or improve flight connections to UK cities. Several cities have seen their connections to Heathrow reduced or lost over recent years as airlines have reallocated the airport's limited capacity to more profitable long-haul flights.
A third runway would increase Heathrow's resilience to disruption, and so reduce emissions from aircraft waiting to land.
Construction would provide up to 60,000 jobs. Operating the expanded Heathrow would create up to 8,000 new jobs at Heathrow by 2030, with multiplier benefits to west London.
BAA believes that the proposed North South High Speed Rail link joining with Heathrow will funnel more passengers to Heathrow, putting further pressure on capacity and boosting the case for a new landing strip - with increased demand in particular for long haul flights.
(Gordon Brown
) and past Transport Secretaries Alistair Darling
, Ruth Kelly
, Geoff Hoon
and Lord Adonis
. Lord Mandelson, the then Business Secretary, also voiced his support for the scheme.
The UK Labour Party stance is broadly supported by a number of groups and prominent individuals:
to lobby the UK government
and generally advocate
for the development of the airport following on from a suggestion from Sir Richard Branson
of Virgin Atlantic Airways
that aviation industry needed to develop a shared solution to climate change. The organisation was created to help demonstrate that the aviation sector was "taking climate change seriously". In 2009 Greenpeace
acquired and published a detailed confidential report into the group activities and plans which claimed that The Department for Transport
was independently approaching Flying Matters for support on key issues on the Climate change bill.
Prior to the 2007 party conferences Flying Matters issued a number of press releases aimed at the conservative party which challenged their opposition to the 3rd runway: "Voters in key marginals shun Conservative proposals for higher taxes on air travel", "'Green' holiday tax plan puts Conservatives 6 per cent behind Labour in 30 most important marginals in the Country","Families will be priced out of air travel if Heathrow fails to expand" and "Stopping new runways would cost half a million new UK jobs". The objectives outlined in the leaked 'draft Strategy and programme for 2009-10' later confirmed that the organisation felt that it was "Essential to help establish a foundation from which the Conservatives could amend their position post election". The organisation's budget for 2008-2009 was £390K.
'. For example: Joe Irvin was advisor to John Prescott
from 1996 and 2001 (Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
as well as Deputy Prime Minister
) before working for various element of the aviation lobby and becoming head of corporate affairs at BAA in 2006 before he became 'Special Advisor' to Gordon Brown
in 2007 when he became prime minister. He was succeeded at BAA by Tom Kelly who took the title 'group director of corporate and public affairs'; Kelly had previously been the official spokesman for Tony Blair
when he was prime minister.
Freedom to Fly was formed during the preparation phase of the "Future of Aviation white paper 2003' by BAA and others It was 'fronted' by Joe Irvin, a former political adviser to John Prescott
who subsequently became Director of Public Affairs at BAA Limited Their director, Dan Hodges, is the son of Glenda Jackson
, Labour MP and former Aviation Minister.
emissions caused by the additional flights will contribute to global warming
. They argue that the claimed economic benefits will be more than wiped out by the cost of the emissions. The government estimates that construction of a third runway will generate an additional 210.8 Mt , but only costs this at £13.33 per ton of (2006 prices), so that the cost over 2020-2080 is only £2.8bn. This is a small fraction of the government's own official estimate of the cost of carbon, which rises from £32.90 in 2020 to £108.20 in 2080 (in 2007 prices). If these figures are used, the carbon cost of the third runway alone rises to £13.3bn (2006 prices), enough to wipe out the economic benefits. However, the British Chambers of Commerce has released a report stating the economic benefits as £30 billion over the same time scale, considerably more than the carbon cost of the expansion.
The World Development Movement
has claimed that the proposed additional flights from Heathrow’s third runway would emit the same amount of per year as the whole of Kenya
. However, the then-Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly
stated that carbon emissions will not actually rise overall in the environment since carbon trading
will be used to ensure that these increases from Heathrow are offset by reductions elsewhere in the economy.
split, a graveyard "bulldozed" and the "entire village of Sipson
could disappear". John McDonnell
, MP for Hayes and Harlington
has suggested that up to 4,000 houses would actually have to be demolished or abandoned, but aviation minister Jim Fitzpatrick
defended the plans, saying anyone evicted from their home as a result of expansion would be fully compensated. BAA have committed to preserving the Grade I listed church and tithe barn
at Harmondsworth
and have assured protection of the value of properties affected by a possible third runway.
s, other groups and prominent individuals who are opposed to expansion:
Various methods were proposed and adopted in attempt to halt expansion:
The Conservatives
and Liberal Democrats
opposed construction and cancelled expansion when elected in the 2010 general election.
In August 2007 the Camp for Climate Action
took place within a mile of Heathrow. The camp ran for a week and on final day some 1000-1400 people protested and 200 people blockaded British Airports Authority HQ. Before the camp BAA requested the "mother of all injunctions" which could have restricted the movements of 5 million people from 15 different organisations, including the RSPB, Greenpeace
, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, the Woodland Trust
, Friends of the Earth
, and the National Trust
. The injunction would have technically have included the Queen
; patron of the RSPB and CPRE, Prince Charles; in his position as President of the National Trust, and even some of BAA's own staff.
In February 2008 five members of Plane Stupid
who have resisted expansion throughout the process staged a 2 hour protest on the roof of the Palace of Westminster
(Houses of Parliament) in protest at the close links between BAA and the government. They unfurled two large banners were unfurled which read "BAA HQ" and "No 3rd runway at Heathrow".
In April 2008, Plane Stupid claimed that their group was infiltrated by Toby Kendall, 24, an employee of C2i International. The Times
reported that he had gone undercover in the group using the name of "Ken Tobias." Airport operator, BAA, who have often been a target of Plane Stupid's campaign, confirmed to The Times that they had been in contact with C2i International but denied ever hiring the company. C2i offer their clients "The ability to operate effectively and securely in a variety of hostile environments". and at the time listed 'aerospace' at the top of a list of industries for which it worked.
In January 2009 Greenpeace
and partners (including actress Emma Thompson
and impressionist Alistair McGowan
) bought a piece of land on the site of the proposed third runway called Airplot Their aim is to maximise the opportunities to put legal obstacles in the way of expansion. Although this action is similar to the tactics first employed in the early 1980s by FoE
with the 'Alice's Meadow
' campaign; it differs in that it relies on the concept of multiple beneficial ownership
rather than the division of the field into microplots. The field was bought for an undisclosed sum from a local land owner. Also in January Climate Rush
staged a "picnic protest" at Heathrow airport against the construction of the 3rd runway. Hundreds of people attended the protest, dressed in Edwardian period dress. In the same month the glass doors of the Department for Transport
where also broken by members of the organisation.
In March 2009 senior MPs demanded a Commons investigation into evidence of a "revolving door
" policy between Downing Street, Whitehall and BAA Limited (BAA is a major UK airport operator).
Also in March 2009, Plane Stupid
protester Leila Deen
threw green custard
over Business Secretary Lord Mandelson at a low carbon summit hosted by Gordon Brown in protest at the frequent meetings between Roland Rudd, who represents airport operator BAA and Mandelson and other ministers in the run-up to Labour's decision to go ahead with plans for a third runway at Heathrow.
Hounslow Council
are examining the possibility of legal action to prevent expansion, with the support of other London councils and the mayor (Boris Johnson
).
In February 2010 The Telegraph
reported that the Department for Transport were being investigated by the Information Commissioner's Office and could face a criminal investigation over allegations that it may have deleted or concealed emails to prevent them from being disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
. The investigation followed a complaint by Justine Greening
MP.
In March 2010 campaigners 'won a High Court
battle' when Lord Justice Carnwath
ruled that the government's policy support for a third runway would need to be looked at again and called for a review "of all the relevant policy issues, including the impact of climate change policy". The Department for Transport vowed to "robustly defend" the third runway plan. Following the announcement, Gordon Brown
, the prime minister
said it was the right decision, that it was "vital not just to our national economy, but enables millions of citizens to keep in touch with their friends and families" and that the judgement would not change its plans. Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers
said that the ruling meant "Labour's flagship transport policies were in complete disarray".
. This would have the advantage of avoiding flights taking off and landing over London, with all the accompanying noise and pollution, and would also avoid destroying residential areas in west London to expand Heathrow. In November 2008 the Mayor of London
, Boris Johnson
, announced a feasibility study into an airport on an artificial offshore island off the Isle of Sheppey
.
Critics point variously to the construction costs, the economic impacts on west London, and the likely increase in emissions through increasing airport capacity.
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
but opposed by the UK government, and Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
, the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
as well as by many environmental and local advocacy groups and prominent individuals. The expansion was cancelled on 12 May 2010 by the new coalition government.
In December 2006 the DFT published a progress report on the strategy which confirmed the original vision.
In November 2007 the government started a public consultation on its proposal for a slightly shorter third runway (2000 metres (2,187 yd)) and a new passenger terminal.
London Heathrow Terminal 5 opened in March 2008.
In January 2009 the Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon
Geoff Hoon
Geoffrey "Geoff" William Hoon is a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Ashfield from 1992 to 2010...
announced that the UK government support the expansion of Heathrow by building a third runway (2200m) and sixth terminal building. The government will not themselves undertake construction, but encourage the airport operator (BAA) to apply for planning permission and carry out the work. The government anticipate that the new runway will be operational in 2015 or soon after.
In 2009 the government declared that they did not intend that the third runway should be used at full capacity when it is first opened. Initially the extra flights should be limited to 125,000 a year until 2020, rather than the 222,000 at full capacity.
In January 2009 mode detailed plans for the third runway were approved together with a sixth terminal and also a major new Heathrow Hub railway station
Heathrow Hub railway station
The Heathrow Hub is a proposed railway interchange to serve, principally, future High Speed 2 rail services for Heathrow Airport. It was part of a proposal put forward by global engineering, design and consulting firm Arup in 2008, as a means of extending the UK’s high speed rail network from...
which would provide better high-speed domestic rail links to the Great Western Main Line
Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
. Plans for a high speed rail connection direct to Heathrow were however dropped during 2010.
In March 2010 the route for High Speed 2
High Speed 2
High Speed 2 is a proposed high-speed railway between London and the Midlands, the North of England, and potentially at a later stage the central belt of Scotland. The project is being developed by High Speed Two Ltd, a company established by the British government...
was announced which did not include a direct connection with Heathrow, preferring a new station at Old Oak Common
Old Oak Common railway station
Old Oak Common railway station is a proposed railway station in west London, England, in the United Kingdom.The new station has been included as a part of the proposed High Speed 2 line from London Euston to Birmingham...
to the west of Paddington on the Crossrail
Crossrail
Crossrail is a project to build a major new railway link under central London. The name refers to the first of two routes which are the responsibility of Crossrail Ltd. It is based on an entirely new east-west tunnel with a central section from to Liverpool Street station...
route.
On 12 May 2010, the expansion was cancelled by the new coalition government. BAA formally dropped its plans on 24 May 2010. However, industries, banks, major corporations and now Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
, the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
, who was previously opposed to the plans, keep pressing the coalition government to rethink their opposition to the expansion of the airport, saying that Britain will fall behind in the air trade.
Plans
The outline of the third runway can be seen on this map published by BAA and annotated by the London Borough of HillingdonLondon Borough of Hillingdon
The London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...
, and also on a Google overlay map.
Reasons for expansion
The principal argument stated in favour of expanding Heathrow is to enhance the economic growth of the UK. As the UK's major hub airport, Heathrow is able to attract many transfer passengers and so is able to support a very wide range of direct flight destinations at high frequencies. It is therefore the world's busiest airport based on number of international passengers. The government claims that Heathrow's connectivity helps London and the South East compete with other European cities for business investment, which in turn produces economic benefits for the rest of the UK. Should Heathrow's connectivity decline compared to London's European competitors, the UK would fall behind. It is already forecast that Paris Charles de Gaulle will overtake Heathrow in 2010.The government's argument is that Heathrow is on the brink of suffering a decline in connectivity. Heathrow’s runways are now operating at around 99% capacity, which increases delays when flights are disrupted, and risks competing European airports gaining destinations at Heathrow's expense. The government estimates that building a third runway would allow Heathrow to increase its connectivity, bringing £5.5bn of economic benefits over 2020-2080. However, the British Chambers of Commerce
British Chambers of Commerce
The British Chambers of Commerce is the national body for a powerful and influential network of 52 accredited Chambers of Commerce across the UK, representing 92,000 businesses that together employ 4,800,000 employees...
estimates the economic benefits are £30 billion for the UK economy over the same time scale and has also stated that for every year the programme is delayed, it costs the UK between £900 million and £1.1 billion.
Despite the fall in passenger numbers caused by the global recession
Late 2000s recession
The late-2000s recession, sometimes referred to as the Great Recession or Lesser Depression or Long Recession, is a severe ongoing global economic problem that began in December 2007 and took a particularly sharp downward turn in September 2008. The Great Recession has affected the entire world...
, supporters of expansion argue that demand will increase again when the recession ends.
Some of the capacity added to Heathrow by the addition of a third runway could be used to re-instate or improve flight connections to UK cities. Several cities have seen their connections to Heathrow reduced or lost over recent years as airlines have reallocated the airport's limited capacity to more profitable long-haul flights.
A third runway would increase Heathrow's resilience to disruption, and so reduce emissions from aircraft waiting to land.
Construction would provide up to 60,000 jobs. Operating the expanded Heathrow would create up to 8,000 new jobs at Heathrow by 2030, with multiplier benefits to west London.
BAA believes that the proposed North South High Speed Rail link joining with Heathrow will funnel more passengers to Heathrow, putting further pressure on capacity and boosting the case for a new landing strip - with increased demand in particular for long haul flights.
Supporters
The UK Labour party took the lead in driving forward the expansion of Heathrow. The particular members of that government most closely associated with that drive were the then Prime MinisterPrime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
(Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
) and past Transport Secretaries Alistair Darling
Alistair Darling
Alistair Maclean Darling is a Scottish Labour Party politician who has been a Member of Parliament since 1987, currently for Edinburgh South West. He served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2007 to 2010...
, Ruth Kelly
Ruth Kelly
Ruth Maria Kelly is a British Labour Party politician of Irish descent who was the Member of Parliament for Bolton West from 1997 until she stood down in 2010...
, Geoff Hoon
Geoff Hoon
Geoffrey "Geoff" William Hoon is a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Ashfield from 1992 to 2010...
and Lord Adonis
Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis
Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis is a British academic, journalist, Labour Party politician and Life Peer, who was Secretary of State for Transport between 2009-2010....
. Lord Mandelson, the then Business Secretary, also voiced his support for the scheme.
The UK Labour Party stance is broadly supported by a number of groups and prominent individuals:
- The airline industry, including BAA Limited (the owner of Heathrow), British AirwaysBritish AirwaysBritish Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
(the principal airline operating from Heathrow), and the industry campaign group Flying MattersFlying MattersFlying Matters was a pro-aviation coalition in the United Kingdom. Members included tourist organisations, airlines, aerospace manufacturers, trade associations, airport operators, growers and others. Formed in June 2007, they have issued briefings, press releases, lobbied Members of Parliament and...
. - Commercial trade bodies and unions: The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)British Chambers of CommerceThe British Chambers of Commerce is the national body for a powerful and influential network of 52 accredited Chambers of Commerce across the UK, representing 92,000 businesses that together employ 4,800,000 employees...
, The Confederation of British Industry (CBI)Confederation of British IndustryThe Confederation of British Industry is a British not for profit organisation incorporated by Royal charter which promotes the interests of its members, some 200,000 British businesses, a figure which includes some 80% of FTSE 100 companies and around 50% of FTSE 350 companies.-Role:The CBI works...
, and The Trades Union Congress (TUC)Trades Union CongressThe Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
among others.
Advocacy in support of expansion
In May 2007, the British Airports Authority (BAA) and several other companies involved with aviation established Flying MattersFlying Matters
Flying Matters was a pro-aviation coalition in the United Kingdom. Members included tourist organisations, airlines, aerospace manufacturers, trade associations, airport operators, growers and others. Formed in June 2007, they have issued briefings, press releases, lobbied Members of Parliament and...
to lobby the UK government
Lobbying in the United Kingdom
Lobbying in the United Kingdom plays a significant role in the formation of legislation and a wide variety of commercial organisations, lobby groups 'lobby' for particular policies and decisions by Parliament and other political organs at state and local levels. It is also possible, but less...
and generally advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
for the development of the airport following on from a suggestion from Sir Richard Branson
Richard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
of Virgin Atlantic Airways
Virgin Atlantic Airways
Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited is a British airline owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Singapore Airlines...
that aviation industry needed to develop a shared solution to climate change. The organisation was created to help demonstrate that the aviation sector was "taking climate change seriously". In 2009 Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
acquired and published a detailed confidential report into the group activities and plans which claimed that The Department for Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
was independently approaching Flying Matters for support on key issues on the Climate change bill.
Prior to the 2007 party conferences Flying Matters issued a number of press releases aimed at the conservative party which challenged their opposition to the 3rd runway: "Voters in key marginals shun Conservative proposals for higher taxes on air travel", "'Green' holiday tax plan puts Conservatives 6 per cent behind Labour in 30 most important marginals in the Country","Families will be priced out of air travel if Heathrow fails to expand" and "Stopping new runways would cost half a million new UK jobs". The objectives outlined in the leaked 'draft Strategy and programme for 2009-10' later confirmed that the organisation felt that it was "Essential to help establish a foundation from which the Conservatives could amend their position post election". The organisation's budget for 2008-2009 was £390K.
Lobbying
The aviation sector has close links with political decision makers which many players moving between roles through the controversial 'revolving doorRevolving door (politics)
The revolving door is the movement of personnel between roles as legislators and regulators and the industries affected by the legislation and regulation and on within lobbying companies. In some cases the roles are performed in sequence but in certain circumstances may be performed at the same time...
'. For example: Joe Irvin was advisor to John Prescott
John Prescott
John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott is a British politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007. Born in Prestatyn, Wales, he represented Hull East as the Labour Member of Parliament from 1970 to 2010...
from 1996 and 2001 (Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions was a UK Cabinet position created in 1997, with responsibility for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions ....
as well as Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a senior member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not a permanent position, existing only at the discretion of the Prime Minister, who may appoint to other offices...
) before working for various element of the aviation lobby and becoming head of corporate affairs at BAA in 2006 before he became 'Special Advisor' to Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
in 2007 when he became prime minister. He was succeeded at BAA by Tom Kelly who took the title 'group director of corporate and public affairs'; Kelly had previously been the official spokesman for Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
when he was prime minister.
Freedom to Fly was formed during the preparation phase of the "Future of Aviation white paper 2003' by BAA and others It was 'fronted' by Joe Irvin, a former political adviser to John Prescott
John Prescott
John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott is a British politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007. Born in Prestatyn, Wales, he represented Hull East as the Labour Member of Parliament from 1970 to 2010...
who subsequently became Director of Public Affairs at BAA Limited Their director, Dan Hodges, is the son of Glenda Jackson
Glenda Jackson
Glenda May Jackson, CBE is a British Labour Party politician and former actress. She has been a Member of Parliament since 1992, and currently represents Hampstead and Kilburn. She previously served as MP for Hampstead and Highgate...
, Labour MP and former Aviation Minister.
Greenhouse gas emissions
Environmental campaigners are concerned that the increasedCarbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
emissions caused by the additional flights will contribute to global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
. They argue that the claimed economic benefits will be more than wiped out by the cost of the emissions. The government estimates that construction of a third runway will generate an additional 210.8 Mt , but only costs this at £13.33 per ton of (2006 prices), so that the cost over 2020-2080 is only £2.8bn. This is a small fraction of the government's own official estimate of the cost of carbon, which rises from £32.90 in 2020 to £108.20 in 2080 (in 2007 prices). If these figures are used, the carbon cost of the third runway alone rises to £13.3bn (2006 prices), enough to wipe out the economic benefits. However, the British Chambers of Commerce has released a report stating the economic benefits as £30 billion over the same time scale, considerably more than the carbon cost of the expansion.
The World Development Movement
World Development Movement
The World Development Movement is a membership organisation in the United Kingdom which campaigns on issues of global justice and development in the Global South....
has claimed that the proposed additional flights from Heathrow’s third runway would emit the same amount of per year as the whole of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. However, the then-Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly
Ruth Kelly
Ruth Maria Kelly is a British Labour Party politician of Irish descent who was the Member of Parliament for Bolton West from 1997 until she stood down in 2010...
stated that carbon emissions will not actually rise overall in the environment since carbon trading
Emissions trading
Emissions trading is a market-based approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants....
will be used to ensure that these increases from Heathrow are offset by reductions elsewhere in the economy.
Community destruction
Some 700 homes, a church and eight grade II listed buildings would have to be demolished or abandoned, the high street in HarmondsworthHarmondsworth
Harmondsworth is a village in the London Borough of Hillingdon, close to London Heathrow Airport. The village is situated south of West Drayton.The nearest places are: Hayes, Harlington, Heathrow Airport, Longford, London, Sipson, West Drayton and Yiewsley....
split, a graveyard "bulldozed" and the "entire village of Sipson
Sipson
Sipson is a village in the London Borough of Hillingdon, in west London, England. It is situated west of Charing Cross and near the northern perimeter of London Heathrow Airport.-Toponymy:...
could disappear". John McDonnell
John McDonnell (politician)
John Martin McDonnell is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Hayes and Harlington since 1997; he serves as Chair of the Socialist Campaign Group, the Labour Representation Committee, and the "Public Services Not Private Profit Group"...
, MP for Hayes and Harlington
Hayes and Harlington (UK Parliament constituency)
Hayes and Harlington is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
has suggested that up to 4,000 houses would actually have to be demolished or abandoned, but aviation minister Jim Fitzpatrick
Jim Fitzpatrick (politician)
James Fitzpatrick is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Poplar and Limehouse since the 2010 General Election. From 1997 to the 2010 election he was the member for Poplar and Canning Town...
defended the plans, saying anyone evicted from their home as a result of expansion would be fully compensated. BAA have committed to preserving the Grade I listed church and tithe barn
Tithe barn
A tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing the tithes - a tenth of the farm's produce which had to be given to the church....
at Harmondsworth
Harmondsworth
Harmondsworth is a village in the London Borough of Hillingdon, close to London Heathrow Airport. The village is situated south of West Drayton.The nearest places are: Hayes, Harlington, Heathrow Airport, Longford, London, Sipson, West Drayton and Yiewsley....
and have assured protection of the value of properties affected by a possible third runway.
Noise and air pollution
Building a third runway at Heathrow will expose hundreds of thousands of residents in certain parts of N.W. and N.London to sustained high levels of aircraft noise for the first time.Subsidiary arguments
- There are alternatives. There are alternatives to a third runway that maintain London's connectivity (see below).
- Air travel is falling. Fewer people flew in 2008 than in 2007, both at Heathrow (-1.4%) and across BAA airports (-2.8%). The number of flights at Heathrow fell in 2008 in response to weakening demand.
- Reduced emissions through resilience are minimal. Reductions in emissions caused by fewer aircraft delays are tiny compared to the increased emissions from the additional flights for which the runway is to be built.
- Job creation claims are invalid. If the money supporting the new jobs generated by a third runway was not spent at an expanded Heathrow, it would be spent elsewhere in the economy.
Opponents of expansion
There are many advocacy groupAdvocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
s, other groups and prominent individuals who are opposed to expansion:
- UK political parties: ConservativesConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, Lib DemsLiberal DemocratsThe Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
, GreensGreen Party of England and WalesThe Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including... - Backbench Labour MPs, including the MP with Heathrow in his constituency (John McDonnellJohn McDonnell (politician)John Martin McDonnell is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Hayes and Harlington since 1997; he serves as Chair of the Socialist Campaign Group, the Labour Representation Committee, and the "Public Services Not Private Profit Group"...
) - Boris JohnsonBoris JohnsonAlexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
, the Mayor of LondonMayor of LondonThe Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
, and his predecessor, Ken LivingstoneKen LivingstoneKenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
. - Campaign groups on flying in general (Plane StupidPlane StupidPlane Stupid is a UK-focused group of environmental protesters who state their aim as wanting to see an end to airport expansion for what it sees as "unnecessary and unsustainable" flights. The organisation has no formal hierarchy, leader, or media figurehead. It is a loose association of...
) and Heathrow in particular (Hacan ClearSkies, NoTRAG) - Local governments in west London: Hillingdon councilLondon Borough of HillingdonThe London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...
- Environmental campaign groups: GreenpeaceGreenpeaceGreenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
, RSPB, Friends of the EarthFriends of the EarthFriends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
and WWFWorld Wide Fund for NatureThe World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
, which have a combined membership of more than 2.5m people - The National TrustNational Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural BeautyThe National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, with 3.5 million members - Developmental charities: OxfamOxfamOxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
, Christian AidChristian AidChristian Aid is the official relief and development agency of 40 British and Irish churches and works to support sustainable development, alleviate poverty, support civil society and provide disaster relief in South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa and Asia...
Advocacy against expansion
The Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
and Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
opposed construction and cancelled expansion when elected in the 2010 general election.
In August 2007 the Camp for Climate Action
Camp for Climate Action
The Camps for Climate Action are campaign gatherings that take place to draw attention to, and act as a base for direct action against, major carbon emitters, as well as to develop ways to create a zero-carbon society...
took place within a mile of Heathrow. The camp ran for a week and on final day some 1000-1400 people protested and 200 people blockaded British Airports Authority HQ. Before the camp BAA requested the "mother of all injunctions" which could have restricted the movements of 5 million people from 15 different organisations, including the RSPB, Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, the Woodland Trust
Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is a conservation charity in the United Kingdom concerned with the protection and sympathetic management of native woodland heritage.-History:...
, Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
, and the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. The injunction would have technically have included the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
; patron of the RSPB and CPRE, Prince Charles; in his position as President of the National Trust, and even some of BAA's own staff.
In February 2008 five members of Plane Stupid
Plane Stupid
Plane Stupid is a UK-focused group of environmental protesters who state their aim as wanting to see an end to airport expansion for what it sees as "unnecessary and unsustainable" flights. The organisation has no formal hierarchy, leader, or media figurehead. It is a loose association of...
who have resisted expansion throughout the process staged a 2 hour protest on the roof of the Palace of Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
(Houses of Parliament) in protest at the close links between BAA and the government. They unfurled two large banners were unfurled which read "BAA HQ" and "No 3rd runway at Heathrow".
In April 2008, Plane Stupid claimed that their group was infiltrated by Toby Kendall, 24, an employee of C2i International. The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
reported that he had gone undercover in the group using the name of "Ken Tobias." Airport operator, BAA, who have often been a target of Plane Stupid's campaign, confirmed to The Times that they had been in contact with C2i International but denied ever hiring the company. C2i offer their clients "The ability to operate effectively and securely in a variety of hostile environments". and at the time listed 'aerospace' at the top of a list of industries for which it worked.
In January 2009 Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
and partners (including actress Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson is a British actress, comedian and screenwriter. Her first major film role was in the 1989 romantic comedy The Tall Guy. In 1992, Thompson won multiple acting awards, including an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress, for her performance in the British drama Howards End...
and impressionist Alistair McGowan
Alistair McGowan
Alistair McGowan is a British impressionist, stand-up comic, actor, singer and writer best known to British audiences for The Big Impression , which was, for four years, one of BBC1's top-rating comedy programmes - winning numerous awards, including a BAFTA in 2003...
) bought a piece of land on the site of the proposed third runway called Airplot Their aim is to maximise the opportunities to put legal obstacles in the way of expansion. Although this action is similar to the tactics first employed in the early 1980s by FoE
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
with the 'Alice's Meadow
Alice's Meadow
Alice's Meadow is the name given to a small field in the Oxfordshire parish of Fencott and Murcott, England. It became the focus of a campaign by local people and Friends of the Earth in the 1980s, who opposed government plans to route the M40 motorway across Otmoor.The name 'Alice's Meadow' is a...
' campaign; it differs in that it relies on the concept of multiple beneficial ownership
Beneficial ownership
Beneficial ownership is enjoyed by anyone who has the benefits of ownership of a Security or property, and yet does not nominally own the asset itself....
rather than the division of the field into microplots. The field was bought for an undisclosed sum from a local land owner. Also in January Climate Rush
Climate Rush
Climate Rush is a UK organisation that campaigns on various environmental issues related to climate change. Their website states that, "We are a diverse group of women and men who are determined to raise awareness of the biggest threat facing humanity today - that of Climate Change". The...
staged a "picnic protest" at Heathrow airport against the construction of the 3rd runway. Hundreds of people attended the protest, dressed in Edwardian period dress. In the same month the glass doors of the Department for Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
where also broken by members of the organisation.
In March 2009 senior MPs demanded a Commons investigation into evidence of a "revolving door
Revolving door (politics)
The revolving door is the movement of personnel between roles as legislators and regulators and the industries affected by the legislation and regulation and on within lobbying companies. In some cases the roles are performed in sequence but in certain circumstances may be performed at the same time...
" policy between Downing Street, Whitehall and BAA Limited (BAA is a major UK airport operator).
Also in March 2009, Plane Stupid
Plane Stupid
Plane Stupid is a UK-focused group of environmental protesters who state their aim as wanting to see an end to airport expansion for what it sees as "unnecessary and unsustainable" flights. The organisation has no formal hierarchy, leader, or media figurehead. It is a loose association of...
protester Leila Deen
Leila Deen
Leila Deen is a British environmentalist, campaigning on the issues of climate change, poverty and water politics. She is most widely known for pouring green custard on the Business Secretary Lord Mandelson in March 2009 in protest against the extension of Heathrow Airport, for which she was...
threw green custard
Custard
Custard is a variety of culinary preparations based on a cooked mixture of milk or cream and egg yolk. Depending on how much egg or thickener is used, custard may vary in consistency from a thin pouring sauce , to a thick pastry cream used to fill éclairs. The most common custards are used as...
over Business Secretary Lord Mandelson at a low carbon summit hosted by Gordon Brown in protest at the frequent meetings between Roland Rudd, who represents airport operator BAA and Mandelson and other ministers in the run-up to Labour's decision to go ahead with plans for a third runway at Heathrow.
Hounslow Council
London Borough of Hounslow
-Political composition:Since the borough was formed it has been controlled by the Labour Party on all but two occasions. In 1968 the Conservatives formed a majority for the first and last time to date until they lost control to Labour in 1971. Labour subsequently lost control of the council in the...
are examining the possibility of legal action to prevent expansion, with the support of other London councils and the mayor (Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
).
In February 2010 The Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
reported that the Department for Transport were being investigated by the Information Commissioner's Office and could face a criminal investigation over allegations that it may have deleted or concealed emails to prevent them from being disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Freedom of Information Act 2000
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that creates a public "right of access" to information held by public authorities. It is the implementation of freedom of information legislation in the United Kingdom on a national level...
. The investigation followed a complaint by Justine Greening
Justine Greening
Justine Greening is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. She has been the Member of Parliament for Putney since 2005. She was appointed Economic Secretary to the Treasury in May 2010, and became Secretary of State for Transport on 14 October 2011...
MP.
In March 2010 campaigners 'won a High Court
High Court
The term High Court usually refers to the superior court of a country or state. In some countries, it is the highest court . In others, it is positioned lower in the hierarchy of courts The term High Court usually refers to the superior court (or supreme court) of a country or state. In some...
battle' when Lord Justice Carnwath
Robert Carnwath
Sir Robert John Anderson Carnwath CVO is a British judge.Carnwath was called to the Bar at Middle Temple in 1968. He practised in parliamentary law, planning and local government, revenue law and administrative law. He held the appointment of Junior Counsel to the Inland Revenue from 1980 to...
ruled that the government's policy support for a third runway would need to be looked at again and called for a review "of all the relevant policy issues, including the impact of climate change policy". The Department for Transport vowed to "robustly defend" the third runway plan. Following the announcement, Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
, the prime minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
said it was the right decision, that it was "vital not just to our national economy, but enables millions of citizens to keep in touch with their friends and families" and that the judgement would not change its plans. Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers
Theresa Villiers
Theresa Anne Villiers is a British Conservative Party politician. She is the Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet and the Minister of State for Transport.She was appointed as a Privy Counsellor on 9 June 2010.-Early life:...
said that the ruling meant "Labour's flagship transport policies were in complete disarray".
Thames estuary airport
Since the 1970s, there have been various proposals to complement or replace Heathrow by a new airport located in the Thames EstuaryThames Estuary
The Thames Mouth is the estuary in which the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea.It is not easy to define the limits of the estuary, although physically the head of Sea Reach, near Canvey Island on the Essex shore is probably the western boundary...
. This would have the advantage of avoiding flights taking off and landing over London, with all the accompanying noise and pollution, and would also avoid destroying residential areas in west London to expand Heathrow. In November 2008 the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
, Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
, announced a feasibility study into an airport on an artificial offshore island off the Isle of Sheppey
Isle of Sheppey
The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, England in the Thames Estuary, some to the east of London. It has an area of . The island forms part of the local government district of Swale...
.
Critics point variously to the construction costs, the economic impacts on west London, and the likely increase in emissions through increasing airport capacity.
High speed rail
All three main UK parties propose to build a high-speed rail line to the north.- In July 2008 ArupArupArup is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom which provides engineering, design, planning, project management and consulting services for all aspects of the built environment. The firm is present in Africa, the Americas, Australasia, East Asia, Europe and the...
proposed a new high speed rail link from Heathrow to High Speed 1 (map) which would connect Heathrow to north-west Europe at a cost of £4.5bn. - In September 2008 the Conservative partyConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
announced a proposed line from London to the north of England and suggested that it would reduce the need for short-haul flights, by encouraging passengers to complete their journey by train instead of plane. By pruning short-haul flights from Heathrow, the number of international flights could be expanded, and connectivity enhanced. The predicted that it would allow the cessation of 66,430 domestic flights per year, 30% of the capacity of the planned third runway. - In March 2010 the Labour government published detailed plans for High Speed 2High Speed 2High Speed 2 is a proposed high-speed railway between London and the Midlands, the North of England, and potentially at a later stage the central belt of Scotland. The project is being developed by High Speed Two Ltd, a company established by the British government...
which would link London with the Birmingham and subsequently Scotland with a new Old Oak Common railway stationOld Oak Common railway stationOld Oak Common railway station is a proposed railway station in west London, England, in the United Kingdom.The new station has been included as a part of the proposed High Speed 2 line from London Euston to Birmingham...
in West London which would 'improve surface access by rail to Heathrow Airport.'DfT (2009a), page 17 paragraph 41 but would not provide a direct service to Heathrow. The route was chosen to relieve congestion on the motorways, rather than replicating an existing route such as the West Coast Main LineWest Coast Main LineThe West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
.DfT (2009a), pages 12-16 paragraphs 32-37 It did believe that there would be some "modal shiftMode of transportMode of transport is a term used to distinguish substantially different ways to perform transport. The most dominant modes of transport are aviation, land transport, which includes rail, road and off-road transport, and ship transport...
" to rail, from road and air.DfT (2009a), page 18 paragraph 47 but not for passengers who arrived at Heathrow by air who it was felt would continue to by air to their UK destination. HS2 Ltd only anticipate 8% of rail users would have switched from aviation.
Reduce demand
An alternative way to relieve the pressure on Heathrow without building a third runway is to put in place policies to reduce demand for air travel. Various suggestions have been made:- Personal carbon tradingPersonal carbon tradingPersonal carbon trading is a general term referring to a number of proposed emissions trading schemes under which emissions credits are allocated to adult individuals on a equal per capita basis, within national carbon budgets. Individuals then surrender these credits when buying fuel or electricity...
has the potential to encourage individuals to voluntarily change their behaviour and reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases. - Eliminate hidden subsidies to flying by bringing the taxation of flying in line with other forms of transport. At present fuel is not taxed at all, and there is no VAT on air travel or new aircraft.
See also
- Aviation and the environmentAviation and the environmentThe environmental impact of aviation occurs because aircraft engines emit noise, particulates, and gases which contribute to climate change and global dimming...
- Air transport and the environment (United Kingdom)Air transport and the environment (United Kingdom)The environmental impact of aviation in the United Kingdom is increasing due to the increasing demand for air travel in the country. In the past 25 years the UK air transport industry has seen sustained growth, and the demand for passenger air travel in particular is forecast to increase more than...
- Mitigation of aviation's environmental impactMitigation of aviation's environmental impactAviation has an impact on the environment due to aircraft engines emitting noise, particulates, and gases which contribute to climate change and global dimming...