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New Heathrow runway permission 'cannot be bought' | New Heathrow runway permission 'cannot be bought' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Heathrow Airport bosses will not be able to "buy" planning permission for a proposed runway expansion, the foreign secretary has said. | Heathrow Airport bosses will not be able to "buy" planning permission for a proposed runway expansion, the foreign secretary has said. |
Philip Hammond made the comments after the airport said it could contribute to a £300m flood relief scheme if it was allowed to expand. | Philip Hammond made the comments after the airport said it could contribute to a £300m flood relief scheme if it was allowed to expand. |
Mr Hammond said Heathrow should join other local businesses in helping to fund new River Thames defences. | |
The airport said expansion would allow environmental issues to be addressed. | |
'Affected by disruption' | |
Homes and businesses in Berkshire, Surrey and the London boroughs of Kingston and Richmond were affected by last February's floods. | |
Conservative MP for Runnymede and Weybridge Mr Hammond said Heathrow would directly benefit from the river defence scheme. | Conservative MP for Runnymede and Weybridge Mr Hammond said Heathrow would directly benefit from the river defence scheme. |
"We've got a long tradition in this county that we don't allow people to buy planning permission for controversial schemes simply by offering money," he said. | "We've got a long tradition in this county that we don't allow people to buy planning permission for controversial schemes simply by offering money," he said. |
"As a very large local business that was negatively affected by the disruption in the area last February I would expect Heathrow and businesses around Heathrow to be among those we ask for a contribution." | "As a very large local business that was negatively affected by the disruption in the area last February I would expect Heathrow and businesses around Heathrow to be among those we ask for a contribution." |
The River Thames defence scheme involves reducing the flood risk between Datchet and Teddington by building a flood channel and improving three weirs. | The River Thames defence scheme involves reducing the flood risk between Datchet and Teddington by building a flood channel and improving three weirs. |
Another £50m needs to be raised for the scheme, expected to be completed by 2025, and Heathrow is one of the organisations being asked to contribute. | Another £50m needs to be raised for the scheme, expected to be completed by 2025, and Heathrow is one of the organisations being asked to contribute. |
Airport expansion | Airport expansion |
The Airports Commission is currently considering three options for expanding airport provision in south-east England. | The Airports Commission is currently considering three options for expanding airport provision in south-east England. |
It is due to make its final recommendation to the government in the summer. | It is due to make its final recommendation to the government in the summer. |
The airport previously said its £16bn expansion plan would provide "once-in a-generation opportunities" to address flooding from tributary rivers. | |
A spokeswoman said Heathrow had invested over £200m in surface water management over the last 11 years. | |
"The plan will provide once-in a-generation opportunities to address economic, social and environmental issues facing local communities, including funding to reduce off-airport flooding, to enhance and to connect green spaces around the airport, and mitigate against the effects of noise," she said. | |
Chertsey in Surrey, among the areas worst affected by last year's floods, is expected to benefit from a separate scheme to improve the Abbey River, a backwater of the Thames. | Chertsey in Surrey, among the areas worst affected by last year's floods, is expected to benefit from a separate scheme to improve the Abbey River, a backwater of the Thames. |
The Environment Agency is replacing two sluices with a weir and a "fish ladder" to allow fish to move upstream and improve the flow of the river. | The Environment Agency is replacing two sluices with a weir and a "fish ladder" to allow fish to move upstream and improve the flow of the river. |