Adam Afriyie MP Restates Opposition to 3rd Runway

Adam Afriyie MP has today restated his determination to fight any proposed third runway at Heathrow. 

Heathrow airport submitted revised plans for a third runway to the Airport Commission this morning. These revised plans show that a new runway would lie further to the west than originally proposed.

Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor, said:

“These new proposals for a third runway at Heathrow have made me even more determined to fight against expansion in the national and local interest. People will be exposed to yet more noise, pollution and congestion unnecessarily.

“Heathrow expansion is not in the local, region or national interest; it is merely in the interests of Heathrow’s shareholders who want to jealously guard their monopoly. If the UK is to be a great trading nation, we are likely to need 4 or more extra runways over the next few decades. There is simply not space at Heathrow and this would be a short-term sticking plaster response to a long-term problem.
“There is ample space for a truly global airport in the Thames Estuary, where planes could also take-off and land day and night without disturbing people. Heathrow would then have a bright future as a busy regional airport with great infrastructure.

“But, above all, we mustn’t support Heathrow Airport Holding Ltd’s ambition to further ingrain its corporate monopoly. This will only make people’s holidays more expensive. We need competition between airports. That’s why, at the very least, Gatwick’s proposal must be strongly considered by the Airport Commission.

“I very much hope that, on careful reflection, Sir Howard will make the right choice when he publishes his decision.”

Contact

§  Telephone: 020 7219 8023

§  Email: adam.afriyie.mp@parliament.uk

Notes to Editors

1.    Mr Afriyie's website: http://www.adamafriyie.org/.

2.    Mr. Afriyie's Telegraph article on Heathrow expansion: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviation/9531940/Why-Im-backing-Boris-Island-by-Windsor-MP-Adam-Afriyie.html.