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| Heathrow expansion verdict could be delayed beyond summer | Heathrow expansion verdict could be delayed beyond summer |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The government’s decision on airport expansion in the south could be delayed even further than the middle of 2016, the transport secretary has suggested, despite announcing on Thursday that a likely verdict is due next summer. | The government’s decision on airport expansion in the south could be delayed even further than the middle of 2016, the transport secretary has suggested, despite announcing on Thursday that a likely verdict is due next summer. |
| Related: Heathrow runway delay not connected to London mayoral elections, McLoughlin claims - Politics live | Related: Heathrow runway delay not connected to London mayoral elections, McLoughlin claims - Politics live |
| Patrick McLoughlin insisted all options were still on the table and that the government was considering proposals for the expansion of Gatwick as well as the building of a third runway at Heathrow – the preferred option of the Airports Commission, led by Howard Davies. | Patrick McLoughlin insisted all options were still on the table and that the government was considering proposals for the expansion of Gatwick as well as the building of a third runway at Heathrow – the preferred option of the Airports Commission, led by Howard Davies. |
| David Cameron announced on Thursday that he was delaying the decision on whether to allow a third runway at Heathrow until summer 2016 because of environmental concerns. The government said it was supporting more airport capacity in the south-east by 2030, as recommended by the Davies commisson. | David Cameron announced on Thursday that he was delaying the decision on whether to allow a third runway at Heathrow until summer 2016 because of environmental concerns. The government said it was supporting more airport capacity in the south-east by 2030, as recommended by the Davies commisson. |
| “I believe that in the summer of next year we will be in a position to have done the extra work which I will be doing as the secretary of state for transport, with the Department for Transport and with the promoters of the three schemes,” said McLoughlin. “I hope that we will be able to make a firm recommendation to the cabinet subcommittee next summer.” | |
| Related: Heathrow expansion: no political will to build third runway, says IAG boss | Related: Heathrow expansion: no political will to build third runway, says IAG boss |
| He added: “We accept that additional airport capacity is needed and we will make a decision on where we are going on that hopefully in the summer of next year.” | He added: “We accept that additional airport capacity is needed and we will make a decision on where we are going on that hopefully in the summer of next year.” |
| The prime minister’s spokeswoman said the government would make a decision “as quickly as possible”. “This is a big decision for our country. The cabinet committee that met yesterday did take decisions on the way forward – so agreeing with the Airports Commission on the need for more capacity, agreeing on the particular shortlist of three schemes put forward by the Airports Commission,” she said. | |
| “But there is this issue around air quality, noise pollution and the environmental impact. And when you’re taking a decision of this magnitude it is right and prudent to do the thorough work before you take those decisions.” | |
| The Commons environmental audit committee produced a parliamentary report this month saying final approval should not be granted until the airport demonstrated it could meet key environmental conditions on climate change, air quality and noise. It warned that a failure to deal with environmental concerns could lay the scheme open to legal challenge. | The Commons environmental audit committee produced a parliamentary report this month saying final approval should not be granted until the airport demonstrated it could meet key environmental conditions on climate change, air quality and noise. It warned that a failure to deal with environmental concerns could lay the scheme open to legal challenge. |
| Although the delay was widely expected, Cameron immediately faced fury from business groups and accusations from Labour that he had ducked a difficult decision on infrastructure to help the chances of Zac Goldsmith, the Tory London mayoral candidate, who is a fierce opponent of Heathrow expansion. | Although the delay was widely expected, Cameron immediately faced fury from business groups and accusations from Labour that he had ducked a difficult decision on infrastructure to help the chances of Zac Goldsmith, the Tory London mayoral candidate, who is a fierce opponent of Heathrow expansion. |
| Related: Heathrow third runway decision put off until at least summer 2016 | Related: Heathrow third runway decision put off until at least summer 2016 |
| Speaking to the BBC’s Today programme, John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow airport, said he was glad to have the opportunity to “reassure the prime minister he can have the best of both worlds. | Speaking to the BBC’s Today programme, John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow airport, said he was glad to have the opportunity to “reassure the prime minister he can have the best of both worlds. |
| “Not only the UK’s best connected hub airport … but we can do it in an environmentally responsible way. We know it’s the right thing to do, if this is the process the prime minister needs to go through to make the right decision in the summer, then so be it, we will work with him and make it happen.” | “Not only the UK’s best connected hub airport … but we can do it in an environmentally responsible way. We know it’s the right thing to do, if this is the process the prime minister needs to go through to make the right decision in the summer, then so be it, we will work with him and make it happen.” |
| Asked about the threat by the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to lie down in front of the bulldozers to prevent a third runway from being built, Holland-Kaye said: “Well, we’ll hand dig around Boris.” | Asked about the threat by the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to lie down in front of the bulldozers to prevent a third runway from being built, Holland-Kaye said: “Well, we’ll hand dig around Boris.” |
| Related: Heathrow decision delay will provoke fury but little surprise | Related: Heathrow decision delay will provoke fury but little surprise |
| The British Chambers of Commerce described Thursday’s announcement as “gutless”, while the CBI group for big business said it was deeply disappointing. | |
| Sadiq Khan, Labour’s London mayoral candidate, said the Tories were “kicking the decision into the long grass” to avoid embarrassing Goldsmith but the country could not afford more dithering over aviation capacity. | Sadiq Khan, Labour’s London mayoral candidate, said the Tories were “kicking the decision into the long grass” to avoid embarrassing Goldsmith but the country could not 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,” he said. | “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,” he said. |
| “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.” | “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.” |