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Boris Island airport plan rejected Boris Island airport plan rejected
(35 minutes later)
A plan for an island airport in the Thames estuary has been rejected by a commission looking into the UK's airport needs A proposal for an island airport in the Thames estuary has been rejected by a commission looking into the UK's airport needs
Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the Airports Commission, said the cost, economic disruption and environmental issues made the plan unviable.Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the Airports Commission, said the cost, economic disruption and environmental issues made the plan unviable.
The estuary airport proposal was dubbed Boris Island, because of strong backing from Mayor London Boris Johnson.The estuary airport proposal was dubbed Boris Island, because of strong backing from Mayor London Boris Johnson.
He said the decision was "myopic" and had put back debate on the issue. He called the decision "myopic", but said his proposal was not dead.
The proposal would have led to the development of a four-runway airport on the Isle of Grain in the Thames Estuary. The island airport proposal would have led to the development of a four-runway airport on the Isle of Grain in the Thames Estuary. But its rejection leaves the expansion of either Heathrow or Gatwick airports as the commission's preferred options.
'Serious doubts''Serious doubts'
But Sir Howard said in the commission's report: "We are not persuaded that a very large airport in the Thames estuary is the right answer to London's and the UK's connectivity needs. Sir Howard said in the commission's report: "We are not persuaded that a very large airport in the Thames estuary is the right answer to London's and the UK's connectivity needs.
"While we recognise the need for a hub airport, we believe this should be a part of an effective system of competing airports to meet the needs of a widely spread and diverse market like London's."While we recognise the need for a hub airport, we believe this should be a part of an effective system of competing airports to meet the needs of a widely spread and diverse market like London's.
"There are serious doubts about the delivery and operation of a very large hub airport in the estuary."There are serious doubts about the delivery and operation of a very large hub airport in the estuary.
"The economic disruption would be huge and there are environmental hurdles which it may prove impossible, or very time-consuming to surmount," Sir Howard said."The economic disruption would be huge and there are environmental hurdles which it may prove impossible, or very time-consuming to surmount," Sir Howard said.
The least ambitious version of the island scheme would cost £70bn to £90bn, much more than other options, he said.The least ambitious version of the island scheme would cost £70bn to £90bn, much more than other options, he said.
"The need for additional capacity is urgent. We need to focus on solutions which are deliverable, affordable, and set the right balance for the future," Sir Howard added."The need for additional capacity is urgent. We need to focus on solutions which are deliverable, affordable, and set the right balance for the future," Sir Howard added.
The decision not to shortlist Boris Island as an option leaves the commission with three alternatives: adding a third runway at Heathrow, lengthening an existing runway at Heathrow, and a new runway at Gatwick.The decision not to shortlist Boris Island as an option leaves the commission with three alternatives: adding a third runway at Heathrow, lengthening an existing runway at Heathrow, and a new runway at Gatwick.
'Gathering dust''Gathering dust'
Sir Howard's commission was set up by the government to consider ways of expanding airport capacity. The final report is expected next summer, after the general election.Sir Howard's commission was set up by the government to consider ways of expanding airport capacity. The final report is expected next summer, after the general election.
Mr Johnson said: "In one myopic stroke the Airports Commission has set the debate back by half a century and consigned their work to the long list of vertically filed reports on aviation expansion that are gathering dust on a shelf in Whitehall.Mr Johnson said: "In one myopic stroke the Airports Commission has set the debate back by half a century and consigned their work to the long list of vertically filed reports on aviation expansion that are gathering dust on a shelf in Whitehall.
"Gatwick is not a long term solution and Howard Davies must explain to the people of London how he can possibly envisage that an expansion of Heathrow, which would create unbelievable levels of noise, blight and pollution, is a better idea than a new airport to the east of London that he himself admits is visionary, and which would create the jobs and growth this country needs to remain competitive.""Gatwick is not a long term solution and Howard Davies must explain to the people of London how he can possibly envisage that an expansion of Heathrow, which would create unbelievable levels of noise, blight and pollution, is a better idea than a new airport to the east of London that he himself admits is visionary, and which would create the jobs and growth this country needs to remain competitive."
However, Gatwick Airport chief executive Stewart Wingate said the commission's decision was the right one. However, Mr Johnson said that the island airport plans were not dead, despite the commission's announcement.
Proposals to expand either Heathrow and Gatwick would run into hurdles - as they had done in the past - and any future government would return to the Thames estuary plan.
That would make any future recommendation made by the Airports Commission "irrelevant", he said.
But Gatwick Airport chief executive Stewart Wingate said the commission's decision was the right one.
"This is an important juncture in the aviation debate because now Britain's choice is clear; expand Gatwick and support genuine competition, lower fares and greater choice for passengers or expand Heathrow and return to the stale monopoly of the past and watch the cost of going on holiday, travelling for business and exporting goods and service go up," Mr Wingate said."This is an important juncture in the aviation debate because now Britain's choice is clear; expand Gatwick and support genuine competition, lower fares and greater choice for passengers or expand Heathrow and return to the stale monopoly of the past and watch the cost of going on holiday, travelling for business and exporting goods and service go up," Mr Wingate said.
He said Gatwick's case for another runway offered the cheapest, quickest and most low risk solution to the urgent need to expand airport capacity.He said Gatwick's case for another runway offered the cheapest, quickest and most low risk solution to the urgent need to expand airport capacity.