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Heathrow's third runway will mean 'more domestic airport links' Heathrow's third runway will mean 'more domestic airport links'
(about 4 hours later)
More UK airports will be served by Heathrow if proposals for a third runway are approved, the Department of Transport is due to promise. Building a third runway at Heathrow will allow more connecting flights with other UK airports, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has said.
Six airports - Belfast, Liverpool, Newquay, Humberside, Prestwick and Durham Tees Valley - could be added to Heathrow's network by 2030. He told the Commons that six regional airports could be added to the Heathrow hub network, bringing the total to 14.
Currently, eight UK airports have links with Heathrow but ministers want to expand domestic connections. The new airports are thought to be Belfast, Liverpool, Newquay, Prestwick Humberside, and Durham Tees Valley.
Details about a proposed expansion of Heathrow are due out later. His comments came as he launched a public consultation on a new runway, unlikely to be operational until 2025.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling is to launch a 16-week consultation and set out planning and infrastructure proposals, and future links with regional airports. Last October, after years of delay, the government said that building a third runway at Heathrow was its preferred option for expanding airport capacity.
Last October, after years of delay, the government said building a third runway at Heathrow was its preferred option for expanding airport capacity. Mr Grayling told the Commons that a third runway would generate tens of thousands of jobs, and be a major boost to the economy as Britain prepares to leave the European Union.
The government will make a final decision after the public consultation. "By backing the north-west runway at Heathrow airport and publishing our proposals, we are sending a clear signal that when we leave the EU, we are open for business," Mr Grayling said.
However, the government says Heathrow's expansion is vital for economy and will create about 70,000 jobs. With the government about to set out its strategy for withdrawal from the EU in a White Paper, Mr Grayling said that a third runway at Heathrow would enhance the UK's global links.
An additional 260,000 take-offs or landings would be permitted each year from the expanded airport, on top of the current cap of 480,000. "Leaving the EU is a new chapter for Britain and provides us with a great opportunity to forge a new role in the world. We are determined to seize that opportunity and having the right infrastructure in place will allow us to build a more global Britain," he told MPs.
"By backing the north-west runway at Heathrow airport and publishing our proposals, we are sending a clear signal that when we leave the EU, we are open for business," Mr Grayling will say, according to advance extracts of his speech. Alongside his announcement of a "draft policy statement" on Heathrow expansion, Mr Grayling also issued a consultation document on improving Britain's air space infrastructure and investing in new technology.
With the government about to set out its strategy for withdrawal from the EU in a White Paper, Mr Grayling will say that a third runway at Heathrow will enhance the UK's global links. He said it made sense to carry out the two consultations together, which will run until 25 May, with the final decisions going before Parliament late this year or early 2018.
"Leaving the EU is a new chapter for Britain and provides us with a great opportunity to forge a new role in the world.
"We are determined to seize that opportunity and having the right infrastructure in place will allow us to build a more global Britain."
'Steamroller''Steamroller'
The 16-week public consultation will be scrutinised by the Commons Transport Select Committee, and there will be information events held near Heathrow and across the UK. The consultations on Heathrow and air traffic facilities will involve events across the country "because the whole country will benefit," Mr Grayling said. He is due in Glasgow later to expand on how travellers and freight users outside the south east England will benefit.
However, there is expected to be continued opposition to Heathrow's expansion. Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, Sarah Olney, accused the government of being "so desperate" to reassure businesses about its Brexit plans that it is "willing to steamroller over those communities opposed to Heathrow expansion". The cost of a third runway is estimated to be £22bn, and is forecast to generate about 70,000 jobs. An additional 260,000 take-offs or landings would be permitted each year from the expanded airport, on top of the current cap of 480,000.
The consultation will consider such things as pollution, additional rail and road infrastructure such a roads, and the impact on surrounding towns and villages.
But there is expected to be continued significant opposition to the third runway proposal.
Earlier, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, Sarah Olney, accused the government of being "so desperate" to reassure businesses about its Brexit plans that it is "willing to steamroller over those communities opposed to Heathrow expansion".
And John Stewart, chairman of anti-Heathrow expansion group Hacan, said it was important that the government assessed the consultation "in an even-handed way" and rejected the plan if the expected impact on issues such as noise was found to be "too great".And John Stewart, chairman of anti-Heathrow expansion group Hacan, said it was important that the government assessed the consultation "in an even-handed way" and rejected the plan if the expected impact on issues such as noise was found to be "too great".
The runway, if approved, is not expected to be operational until around 2025.