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Boris Johnson: commission's stance on airport expansion contradictory Boris Johnson: commission's stance on airport expansion contradictory
(about 4 hours later)
The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has accused the Airports Commission of favouring Heathrow expansion against its own evidence while turning the process of choosing a site for a new runway into an X Factor-style contest. The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has accused the airports commission of favouring Heathrow expansion against its own evidence while turning the process of choosing a site for a new runway into an X Factor-style contest.
In a keynote speech delivered on his behalf to an industry conference, a close ally and senior aviation adviser, Daniel Moylan, accused the commission, which is led by Sir Howard Davies, of making decisions with "a touch of Simon Cowell". In a speech delivered on the mayor's behalf to an industry conference, Daniel Moylan, an aviation adviser and close ally, accused the commission of making decisions with "a touch of Simon Cowell".
He said the conclusions of the commission's interim report were "startlingly adrift from the numerical and other evidence" contained within the document, and said Davies was failing to "seriously engage with the mayor". He said the conclusions of the commission's interim report were "startlingly adrift from the numerical and other evidence" contained in the document, and said Sir Howard Davies, who chairs the commission, was failing to "seriously engage with the mayor".
He said it was "absurd" that Johnson's office was treated "on a par with a private company motivated by commercial interests" when planning for expansion of London's infrastructure was a key part of the mayor's powers and responsibilities.He said it was "absurd" that Johnson's office was treated "on a par with a private company motivated by commercial interests" when planning for expansion of London's infrastructure was a key part of the mayor's powers and responsibilities.
The decision had to involve the mayor, who was the only politician "articulating the public interest" among the private firms, he said, adding that while the commission was supposed to be independent, it was in danger of becoming "independent of the real world".The decision had to involve the mayor, who was the only politician "articulating the public interest" among the private firms, he said, adding that while the commission was supposed to be independent, it was in danger of becoming "independent of the real world".
Moylan said Johnson was "profoundly unsettled" by the interim report in December, which drew up a shortlist of possible airport expansion plans. This contained two different runway options at Heathrow and another at Gatwick, while rejecting the mayor's proposals for a four-runway Stansted – "for flimsy reasons", said Moylan – and promising only to continue reviewing evidence for a Thames estuary option – a concession widely seen as a last-minute political fudge.Moylan said Johnson was "profoundly unsettled" by the interim report in December, which drew up a shortlist of possible airport expansion plans. This contained two different runway options at Heathrow and another at Gatwick, while rejecting the mayor's proposals for a four-runway Stansted – "for flimsy reasons", said Moylan – and promising only to continue reviewing evidence for a Thames estuary option – a concession widely seen as a last-minute political fudge.
One industry observer questioned whether the speech was a possible prelude to a legal challenge by Johnson.One industry observer questioned whether the speech was a possible prelude to a legal challenge by Johnson.
Moylan said the commission had "added a large percentage of risk and contingency to all submissions, which is why they come up with a huge figure for a new airport, but, before doing so, they actually cut Heathrow's own cost estimates, uniquely amongst winning submissions. Why did they do this? Whatever the reason, a grossly unfair advantage has been given to Heathrow."Moylan said the commission had "added a large percentage of risk and contingency to all submissions, which is why they come up with a huge figure for a new airport, but, before doing so, they actually cut Heathrow's own cost estimates, uniquely amongst winning submissions. Why did they do this? Whatever the reason, a grossly unfair advantage has been given to Heathrow."
Earlier, Davies had announced the terms of reference for the commission's continued studies into a Thames estuary airport option. The body will rule on whether the option should be considered alongside Heathrow and Gatwick on the shortlist by autumn. Speaking earlier at the Runways UK conference in London, Davies had announced the terms of reference for the commission's continued studies into a Thames estuary airport option. The body will rule on whether the option should be considered alongside Heathrow and Gatwick on the shortlist by autumn.
Asked if it was a "political fudge", Davies replied: "You may say that; I couldn't possibly comment."Asked if it was a "political fudge", Davies replied: "You may say that; I couldn't possibly comment."
He added that they had concluded "we could neither sensibly rule it in or rule it out". But, he said: "We want to make sure a decision is soundly based and not vulnerable to challenge. The legal advice suggests what we are doing is defensible." He added that they had concluded "we could neither sensibly rule it in or rule it out". But, he said: "We want to make sure a decision is soundly based and not vulnerable to challenge. The legal advice suggests what we are doing is defensible." However, the stay of execution granted to Johnson's estuary proposal was challenged by a rival group which did not make the shortlist.
In an open letter to Davies, the backers of a second Thames estuary proposal, Britannia Airport, demanded to know why its scheme to build on the water was dismissed as "not credible" while the Isle of Grain was kept in consideration – although it was not on the shortlist Davies said there would be a further study on whether the Isle should be an option. The letter on behalf of the Testrad consortium from economist Bridget Rosewell – a Network Rail director heavily involved in HS2 – said it was a "considerable surprise". It added: "We are also concerned that we were not given the opportunity to meet with the commission – although we understand that the commission did meet other scheme promoters."
Meanwhile, Heathrow announced the launch of a six-week consultation with local residents about its own third runway plans, with letters sent out to 120,000 households and nine public meetings.
Chief executive Colin Matthews said it would make sure the airport correctly understood what local people value. He said: "We know that opinion is divided locally about whether a third runway should go ahead or not, but everyone has an interest in making sure that if a third runway does happen it is developed in the best way possible."
Captain Jock Lowe, the pilot fronting the alternative Heathrow Hub proposal to double an existing runway at the airport, said he would back the commission should it choose Heathrow's own runway plan. But if Gatwick was chosen instead, he said: "I might emigrate, because it shows the country can't make big sensible decisions."
The commission is requesting detailed plans for all the options on its shortlist by the autumn, before a period of public consultation. It will deliver its final recommendation after the general election.The commission is requesting detailed plans for all the options on its shortlist by the autumn, before a period of public consultation. It will deliver its final recommendation after the general election.
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