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Thames estuary airport plan not dead yet, Boris Johnson declares Thames estuary airport plan not dead yet, Boris Johnson declares
(about 3 hours later)
Boris Johnson's dream of a hub airport in the Thames estuary is "not dead yet", the London mayor has said after the Airports Commission said it would give him another six months to put forward fresh arguments.Boris Johnson's dream of a hub airport in the Thames estuary is "not dead yet", the London mayor has said after the Airports Commission said it would give him another six months to put forward fresh arguments.
Johnson said expansion at Heathrow would "entrench a grievous planning error" and require the closure of M25 for five years as the new runway was built. Johnson said expansion at Heathrow would "entrench a grievous planning error" and require the closure of the M25 for five years as the new runway was built.
He said the good news "is that we not dead yet" but described the recommendations of the government-appointed independent commission led by Sir Howard Davies, as a "fudgerama", saying his own proposal was now "half in and half out". He said the good news was that "we're not dead yet" but described the recommendations of the government-appointed independent commission led by Sir Howard Davies, as a "fudgerama", saying his own proposal was now "half in and half out".
He argued that the commission had left a clear choice between going for Heathrow or his own option, arguing an extra runway Gatwick airport south of London "would not make a bean of difference because the airlines will still want to go to Heathrow". He argued that the commission had left a clear choice between going for Heathrow or his own option, arguing an extra runway at Gatwick airport south of London "would not make a bean of difference because the airlines will still want to go to Heathrow".
"To build another runway in a west London suburb is completely crackers," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, adding that "as soon as the third runway is completed in 2030, this will "as sure as eggs are eggs be accompanied by an insatiable and vociferous clamour for a fourth runway". Even a third runway, he said, "would be catastrophic for the quality of life consigning millions of people to extra noise pollution". "To build another runway in a west London suburb is completely crackers," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. He added that as soon as the third runway is completed in 2030, it would "as sure as eggs are eggs be accompanied by an insatiable and vociferous clamour for a fourth runway". Even a third runway, he said, would be catastrophic for the quality of life consigning millions of people to extra noise pollution.
He promised he could allay the fears of Davies about the cost of an airport on the Thames estuary saying the transport infrastructure would cost £20bn, and the airport itself less. He promised he could allay the fears of Davies about the cost of an airport on the Thames estuary saying the transport infrastructure would cost £20bn, and the airport itself less.
He indicated that Davies had agreed a stay of execution for his plan in the last few days, and said this would give him the chance to highlight to the commission the huge regeneration benefits for the east of London He indicated that Davies had agreed a stay of execution for his plan in the past few days, and said this would give him the chance to highlight to the commission the huge regeneration benefits for the east of London.
Johnson said: "What is being proposed at Heathrow is not some oven-ready peasy scheme. Both the Heathrow options require concreting the M25 probably closing it for five years and doing major realignments of the M4 at a cost of £10bn. Why entrench a huge planning error and consign future generations to misery?" Johnson said: "What is being proposed at Heathrow is not some oven-ready peasy scheme. Both the Heathrow options require concreting the M25, probably closing it for five years and doing major realignments of the M4 at a cost of £10bn. Why entrench a huge planning error and consign future generations to misery?"
Johnson acknowledged that he also had yet to convince the commission that there was an inexorable demand for a hub airport but insisted that was clear from the demand curve for air travel in the last 50 years, pointing to what is happening in China India, Istanbul and Dubai. Johnson acknowledged that he had yet to convince the commission that there was an inexorable demand for a hub airport but insisted that was clear from the demand curve for air travel in the past 50 years, pointing to what is happening in China India, Istanbul and Dubai.
Johnson insisted he was not giving up on the estuary plan, but said of the three main options selected by Davies, Gatwick was "the least injurious to Londoners". But he said it would not produce the competitive boost the country needs since the airlines would not migrate to Gatwick.Johnson insisted he was not giving up on the estuary plan, but said of the three main options selected by Davies, Gatwick was "the least injurious to Londoners". But he said it would not produce the competitive boost the country needs since the airlines would not migrate to Gatwick.
He refused to contemplate resigning from the Conservative party if David Cameron plumped for Heathrow, saying: "I believe in going on in winning fights rather than flouncing out."He refused to contemplate resigning from the Conservative party if David Cameron plumped for Heathrow, saying: "I believe in going on in winning fights rather than flouncing out."
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