Councils cheer Mayor's Heathrow conversion

1.00.00am GMT Thu 1st Mar 2007

Local authority campaigners have welcomed the Mayor of London's change of heart on the benefits of a third runway at Heathrow.

In his climate change action plan published this week the Mayor Ken Livingstone said he would 'challenge the need for further runway expansion' as part of a new approach to cutting London's carbon emissions. The Mayor has previously supported expansion at Heathrow as part of the London Plan, citing the economic benefits. The Mayor said this week he would be advocating alternatives to air travel including affordable high speed rail.

Richmond Council Leader, Cllr Serge Lourie, speaking on behalf of the 2M Group, said the Government's policy of continued expansion at Heathrow was simply unsustainable.

"It's great to have the Mayor on board. He has previously been an advocate of airport expansion - now he is at last coming round to address the environmental impact. No one dismisses the economic benefits of an airport the size of Heathrow - but more people than ever before are questioning whether its growth has gone too far. The Mayor is right to highlight the impact of carbon emissions from aviation on climate change. Residents in the area covered by the 2M Group are also concerned about the effects of worsening air quality and noise pollution from the extra flights. The Government and the aviation industry are beginning to look increasingly out of step. The 2M Group is pressing the case in every quarter for a fresh approach to the tired old policy of giving the industry everything it asks for. The Mayor's support will make it much harder for ministers to continue with their expansion plans."

A series of announcements are expected during 2007 which would add to capacity at the airport. These include the third runway and the ending of alternation for landings and take offs at the two existing runways. The 2M Group is an alliance of 12 local authorities concerned at the environmental impact of Heathrow expansion on their communities. It represents more than two million people in the areas affected.