Windsor MP Urges Pause for Thought

The Windsor MP welcomes the Government for delaying its decision on airport expansion.

The Government has said that it will wait to hear more evidence before choosing which airport will be given permission to build a new runway but that at the moment it is leaning towards expanding Heathrow.

Adam has been a long-term opponent of Heathrow expansion and has run a campaign against a third runway since he first became an MP in 2005.

Adam Afriyie, Windsor’s MP, commented:             

“I very much welcome the Government’s decision not to authorise a third runway at Heathrow given the cost to the taxpayer, the pollution and carbon emissions and the fact that 68 times more people are affected by expansion at Heathrow compared to a second runway at Gatwick

“If we are going to limit our ambitions to a single new runway in the South East then the Government would do well to rule out Heathrow expansion today and allow Gatwick to proceed. This would cost the taxpayer nothing and it can be built straight away without the risk of legal holdups

“Gatwick is clearly the better of the two available short-term options environmentally, economically and politically

“Despite concerns over delay, it is better to make the right decision than an early decision.  This pause for thought will give the Government to reflect on the titanic body of evidence against Heathrow expansion, which is not in the national nor local economic interest and would entrench the existing market dominance of Heathrow Airports Ltd when Gatwick would deliver a cleaner environment, lower cost flights and blight far fewer people with noise