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| Heathrow Airport: TfL criticises third runway proposal | Heathrow Airport: TfL criticises third runway proposal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Transport for London has criticised the Airport Commission's call for a new runway at Heathrow or Gatwick. | Transport for London has criticised the Airport Commission's call for a new runway at Heathrow or Gatwick. |
| It said it favoured a long-term solution to expanding the UK's airport capacity, such as building a new airport. | It said it favoured a long-term solution to expanding the UK's airport capacity, such as building a new airport. |
| TfL said the commission lacked "long-term vision" and placed more weight on "short-term commercial interests". | TfL said the commission lacked "long-term vision" and placed more weight on "short-term commercial interests". |
| TfL's chairman Boris Johnson has called for a new airport in the Thames Estuary, nicknamed Boris Island. | |
| The commission has said it is carrying out "a thorough, comprehensive and transparent study" of airport capacity in the UK. | The commission has said it is carrying out "a thorough, comprehensive and transparent study" of airport capacity in the UK. |
| 'Vital national importance' | |
| A TfL spokesman said: "The interim report and the recently published appraisal criteria places more weight on accommodating short-term commercial interests, than a strategic vision for aviation which is able to secure the UK's long-term economic prosperity. | A TfL spokesman said: "The interim report and the recently published appraisal criteria places more weight on accommodating short-term commercial interests, than a strategic vision for aviation which is able to secure the UK's long-term economic prosperity. |
| "The commission identify a significant capacity gap in 2050, but do not address this. They focus instead on runway capacity options to 2030. | "The commission identify a significant capacity gap in 2050, but do not address this. They focus instead on runway capacity options to 2030. |
| "This does not provide the UK with a long-term plan." | |
| Options floated by the commission include the creation of a third runway at Heathrow, or extending the northern runway to the west. Both would cause at least 750 homes to be demolished. | Options floated by the commission include the creation of a third runway at Heathrow, or extending the northern runway to the west. Both would cause at least 750 homes to be demolished. |
| But TfL believes the extra runway would have swallowed all potential for growth by 2030, meaning domestic destinations would be "traded off against lucrative long-haul routes". | But TfL believes the extra runway would have swallowed all potential for growth by 2030, meaning domestic destinations would be "traded off against lucrative long-haul routes". |
| Only a new four-runway hub could address this issue properly, TfL says. | Only a new four-runway hub could address this issue properly, TfL says. |
| An Airports Commission spokesman said: "Decisions about airport capacity are of vital national importance and must be based on the best evidence available. | An Airports Commission spokesman said: "Decisions about airport capacity are of vital national importance and must be based on the best evidence available. |
| "The commission is undertaking a thorough, comprehensive and transparent study subject to rigorous assessment considering economic, social and environmental impacts. | "The commission is undertaking a thorough, comprehensive and transparent study subject to rigorous assessment considering economic, social and environmental impacts. |
| "This work will continue to develop as comprehensive a picture as possible of the risks and opportunities of each option identified. | "This work will continue to develop as comprehensive a picture as possible of the risks and opportunities of each option identified. |
| "This will be followed by a full consultation later this year on the design and appraisal of each option." | "This will be followed by a full consultation later this year on the design and appraisal of each option." |