MP: "THIRD RUNWAY WOULD BE MADNESS"

12.00.00am GMT Fri 14th Feb 2003

In the light of recent terror alerts at Heathrow Airport, Dr Jenny Tonge, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, has this week written to the Transport Secretary Alistair Darling, urging him finally to abandon plans to place a third runway at Heathrow.

The MP wrote: "Concentrating so much air traffic in such a densely populated area is madness, making the job of would-be terrorists far easier."

"If, as I dispute, there really is a need for more airport capacity in the South East, surely the only safe option is to place a new airport in the Thames Estuary."