Jenny Tonge MP on Heathrow Airport

12.00.00am GMT Wed 5th Feb 2003

Dr Jenny Tonge, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, has reacted with amazement to news that Department of Transport plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport are so flawed they will force yet another re-think of Government plans to increase airport capacity in South East England.

The plans were already in disarray following the High Court ruling late last year which forced them to include Gatwick in their list of options.

The British Airports Authority has found that the siting of the proposed third runway at Heathrow would mean aircraft using it would have to cross the existing northern runway to pick up and drop off passengers.

At an estimated 220,000 crossings a year, this would mean longer intervals between take offs and landings on the northern runway and a huge cut in capacity.

Unless yet another vast terminal is built to serve the new runway, the predicted extra capacity gained from it would be a fraction of what the Government says is needed.

Dr Tonge said: "How the Government's planners could not have noticed that aircraft would have to cross an existing runway to reach their proposed third runway simply beggars imagination."

"I hope Alistair Darling will now realise that putting extra capacity at Heathrow is not an option."

"He must go back to the drawing board"If extra capacity is needed in the South East – which I question – then the answer simply has to be a new airport in the Thames Estuary."

"For further information please contact Jenny Tonge on pager number 07699 734071 or Serena Hennessy on:020 8332 7919"

"Notes for Editors: BAA Press Office 020 8745 7224