WITH a Parliamentary vote on a third Heathrow runway looming, the airport has been busy trying to win the support of MPs outside the south east by promising new jobs and new regional connections. In fact, it can’t deliver either, and the Government’s vague promises to support airports elsewhere in the UK, while expanding Heathrow, lack any substance (“Warning that Scots airports will lose out to Heathrow expansion”, The Herald, June 5).
Heathrow’s estimates of new jobs from the project don’t stand up to scrutiny, not least as much of the employment would mean shifting people out of their local area and into the south east. In contrast to Heathrow’s talk of 14 domestic connections if it gets a new runway, official forecasts show the number of domestic connections falling to just five by 2050 from eight at present, even with expansion. In terms of passenger demand, a bigger Heathrow would mean less growth at almost every other UK airport.
The “national benefit” the Government claims from the scheme excludes both its environmental costs (climate change, noise and air pollution) and the public cost of the extra road and rail infrastructure required.
A third runway at Heathrow Airport would benefit Heathrow Airport. It’s doubtful that the rest of us stand to gain. We hope Scotland’s MPs will vote no to the third runway plan.
Tim Johnson, Director,
Aviation Environment Federation,
40 Bermondsey Street, London.
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