Broken promises over Heathrow - Tuffrey

3.25.00pm GMT Tue 22nd Jan 2008

Commenting on the public consultation on expansion at Heathrow, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly, Mike Tuffrey said:

"BAA and the Department for Transport have broken a catalogue of promises over Heathrow expansion. I can point to three specific instances in the past where they have made assurances that have not been kept.

"It is no wonder that the public are deeply cynical about the Government consultation. Stephen Nelson, CEO of BAA today said that he could not promise that the proposed third runway would be the final development at Heathrow.

"I urge Londoners to make sure they send in their responses to the consultation. There is overwhelming opposition to expansion and that needs to be expressed to hold BAA and the Government in check.

"Rather than having millions of pounds wasted on a third runway, the Government should invest in high-speed rail to the North and Scotland. They need to cut back on short-haul flights. There are cheaper, greener alternatives that must be considered."

Research by the London Assembly Liberal Democrats has found that flying from Heathrow to Paris or Brussels generates roughly 10 times more CO2 than the same journey by rail.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. Carbon emissions by flying from Heathrow:

· Heathrow to Paris CDG - approximately 15 flights per day - each generating 122 kilograms of CO2, (1830 kilograms of CO2 per day) compared with just 11 kilograms for a traveller on a London-Paris return journey by train.

· Heathrow to Brussels - approximately 13 flights per day - each generating 160 kg of CO2 per passenger, (2080 kilograms of CO2 per day) against only 18 kg of CO2 for a return journey by rail.

2. Previous statements about no further Heathrow expansion:

· 1979/80: Terminal 4 will be the last major development - "The Government conclude that the idea of a Fifth Terminal at Heathrow and a second runway at Gatwick should not be pursued. This effectively limits expansion at these airports." Aviation Minister, Lord Trefargne, the House of Lords, 14th February 1980.

· 1995: BAA said repeatedly that Terminal 5 would not lead to a 3rd runway.

· 2001: Terminal Five given the go-ahead but with a cap on flight numbers. "We are making it a planning condition that there will be a limit of 480,000 flight movements a year" Transport Secretary of State, Stephen Byers, House of Commons, 2001. They are now stating at least 702,000 flight movements (although some suspect this would be more like 800,000).