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Uproar at airport expansion plans Uproar at airport expansion plans
(about 1 hour later)
Campaign groups have come out fighting as the government pledged to press ahead with airport expansion plans.Campaign groups have come out fighting as the government pledged to press ahead with airport expansion plans.
The 'Progress Report on the Aviation White Paper' gave a commitment to a third, short runway at Heathrow airport and a new runway at Stansted.The 'Progress Report on the Aviation White Paper' gave a commitment to a third, short runway at Heathrow airport and a new runway at Stansted.
Opposition groups have vowed to fight the move which they say would bring misery to thousands of people.Opposition groups have vowed to fight the move which they say would bring misery to thousands of people.
However, unions and business groups believe there is a real threat to Heathrow unless development continues. But the London Chamber of Commerce said the runway expansion plans would act as a boost for business.
Over 150,000 people in London and Berkshire would experience high levels of aircraft noise for the first time HACAN ClearSkies chairman John Stewart HACAN ClearSkies, the group that represents people living under the Heathrow flight path claims at least 700 homes would have to be demolished to make way for a third runway at Heathrow.
HACAN ClearSkies, the group that represents people living under the Heathrow flight path promised "the mother of all battles" against any proposals to expand the airport. We believe Heathrow can develop in a way that is sensitive to environmental issues Leader of Future Heathrow, Clive Soley
The campaign group claims at least 700 homes would have to be demolished to make way for a third runway at Heathrow. "Over 150,000 people in London and Berkshire would experience high levels of aircraft noise for the first time as they would find themselves living under the flight path to the new runway", campaign chairman John Stewart added.
"Over 150,000 people in London and Berkshire would experience high levels of aircraft noise for the first time as they would find themselves living under the flight path to the new runway", HACAN ClearSkies chairman John Stewart added. "Local councils, residents' groups and nearly all the MPs in the area are opposed to further expansion of Heathrow, and direct action would be inevitable," he said.
"Local councils, residents' groups and nearly all the MPs in the area are opposed to further expansion of Heathrow, direct action would be inevitable," he said. Carol Barbone, a spokeswoman for the Stop Stansted Expansion campaign, said: "This is not a progress report at all but the very opposite.
Climate change targets "It shows the government remains wedded to the past and unable to grasp the very real need that the key priority is to address climate change, not to build new runways."
Seven London boroughs and four authorities outside London, representing two million people living under the flight path, have joined together to form the 2M Group.Seven London boroughs and four authorities outside London, representing two million people living under the flight path, have joined together to form the 2M Group.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Richmond Council leader Serge Lourie, called for the government to "play fair" by theses communities.
He said an "independent study which includes the full environmental cost of aviation and looks at the impact of spending on flights on the wider economy" should be carried out.
London Assembly Green Party member, Darren Johnson, said the move would wreck any chance of meeting mayor Ken Livingstone's new climate change targets.
The plans include a second runway at StanstedThe plans include a second runway at Stansted
"As the Stern report demonstrated, in the long run the damage to London's economy from climate change will be far more severe than any questionable benefits that aviation expansion would bring," he said. Speaking on behalf of the group, Richmond Council leader Serge Lourie, said an "independent study which includes the full environmental cost of aviation and looks at the impact of spending on flights on the wider economy" should be carried out."
However, Future Heathrow, founded by trade unions, business groups and airlines in May 2005, claims the airport is under threat if development is not allowed to continue on the site.However, Future Heathrow, founded by trade unions, business groups and airlines in May 2005, claims the airport is under threat if development is not allowed to continue on the site.
Leader of Future Heathrow, Clive Soley, said: "Heathrow is critically important to the economic prosperity of West London and the Thames Valley and is a uniquely valuable asset to London and the UK.Leader of Future Heathrow, Clive Soley, said: "Heathrow is critically important to the economic prosperity of West London and the Thames Valley and is a uniquely valuable asset to London and the UK.
"We believe Heathrow can develop in a way that is sensitive to environmental issues and the needs of the local population."We believe Heathrow can develop in a way that is sensitive to environmental issues and the needs of the local population.
"No-one will thank us for ducking difficult decisions now if we store up greater problems for the future," he said."No-one will thank us for ducking difficult decisions now if we store up greater problems for the future," he said.
In response to the report, the London Chamber of Commerce's chief executive, Colin Stanbridge, said: "This is not before time and will be gratefully received."