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| Boris Johnson attacks 'myopic' Airports Commission as estuary plan is rejected | Boris Johnson attacks 'myopic' Airports Commission as estuary plan is rejected |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The London mayor, Boris Johnson, has launched a withering attack on the "irrelevant" and "myopic" Airports Commission, after the panel tasked with deciding where to build additional runways in the south-east finally ruled out his plan for a new hub in the Thames estuary. | The London mayor, Boris Johnson, has launched a withering attack on the "irrelevant" and "myopic" Airports Commission, after the panel tasked with deciding where to build additional runways in the south-east finally ruled out his plan for a new hub in the Thames estuary. |
| The commission said that after detailed study it had concluded the proposal for a new four-runway airport had "substantial disadvantages that collectively outweigh its potential benefits". | The commission said that after detailed study it had concluded the proposal for a new four-runway airport had "substantial disadvantages that collectively outweigh its potential benefits". |
| The commission chairman, Sir Howard Davies, said there were serious doubts about its operation and deliverability. | The commission chairman, Sir Howard Davies, said there were serious doubts about its operation and deliverability. |
| He said: "The economic disruption would be huge and there are environmental hurdles which it may prove impossible, or very time-consuming to surmount. Even the least ambitious version of the scheme would cost £70bn to £90bn with much greater public expenditure involved than in other options – probably some £30bn to £60bn in total." | He said: "The economic disruption would be huge and there are environmental hurdles which it may prove impossible, or very time-consuming to surmount. Even the least ambitious version of the scheme would cost £70bn to £90bn with much greater public expenditure involved than in other options – probably some £30bn to £60bn in total." |
| The verdict leaves only Gatwick and Heathrow on the final shortlist for Davies's ultimate recommendation for additional runway capacity in south-east England. | The verdict leaves only Gatwick and Heathrow on the final shortlist for Davies's ultimate recommendation for additional runway capacity in south-east England. |
| He added: "There will be those who argue that the commission lacks ambition and imagination. We are ambitious for the right solution. The need for additional capacity is urgent. We need to focus on solutions which are deliverable, affordable, and set the right balance for the future of aviation in the UK." | He added: "There will be those who argue that the commission lacks ambition and imagination. We are ambitious for the right solution. The need for additional capacity is urgent. We need to focus on solutions which are deliverable, affordable, and set the right balance for the future of aviation in the UK." |
| Despite the pre-emptive defence, Johnson claimed the commission seemed to have no single reason to rule out an estuary airport and appeared unable to recommend it simply because of its sheer scale and vision. He warned that a third runway at Heathrow would run into immovable political opposition again. | Despite the pre-emptive defence, Johnson claimed the commission seemed to have no single reason to rule out an estuary airport and appeared unable to recommend it simply because of its sheer scale and vision. He warned that a third runway at Heathrow would run into immovable political opposition again. |
| Johnson said: "In one myopic stroke the Airports Commission has set the debate back by half a century and consigned their work to the long list of vertically filed reports on aviation expansion that are gathering dust on a shelf in Whitehall. | Johnson said: "In one myopic stroke the Airports Commission has set the debate back by half a century and consigned their work to the long list of vertically filed reports on aviation expansion that are gathering dust on a shelf in Whitehall. |
| "Gatwick is not a long-term solution and Howard Davies must explain to the people of London how he can possibly envisage that an expansion of Heathrow, which would create unbelievable levels of noise, blight and pollution, is a better idea than a new airport to the east of London that he himself admits is visionary." | "Gatwick is not a long-term solution and Howard Davies must explain to the people of London how he can possibly envisage that an expansion of Heathrow, which would create unbelievable levels of noise, blight and pollution, is a better idea than a new airport to the east of London that he himself admits is visionary." |
| Commenting later on the BBC Today programme, Davies said that the estuary airport plan was too risky, with immense logistical challenges, very complicated surface access requirements, environmental problems, and that he suspected it would never have got built. | |
| He said: "Ambition is a great thing. We've spent 18 months looking at whether this thing could work. Unfortunately one has to look at the practicality and cost-benefit." | |
| He denied the commission had yet made its mind up on a final choice, saying: "There are many uncertainties still on which we are consulting. We want to make a decision that will stick. | |
| The mayor has faced criticism from the London assembly over the time and funds devoted to the scheme, nicknamed Boris Island. | The mayor has faced criticism from the London assembly over the time and funds devoted to the scheme, nicknamed Boris Island. |
| The Labour group's Val Shawcross said Johnson had "wasted more than £5m of taxpayer money pursuing this pie-in-the-sky vanity project". | The Labour group's Val Shawcross said Johnson had "wasted more than £5m of taxpayer money pursuing this pie-in-the-sky vanity project". |
| "If anything, Londoners now deserve an apology from their mayor." | "If anything, Londoners now deserve an apology from their mayor." |
| Mary Creagh MP, Labour's shadow transport secretary, said: "This back of a fag packet scheme was designed less for the country's economic future and more for the omnishambles mayor's political ambitions." | |
| But Johnson said his team would continue to make the case, and could revive his estuary plans as an MP. | But Johnson said his team would continue to make the case, and could revive his estuary plans as an MP. |
| Gatwick said the commission's decision was an important juncture. The airport's chief executive, Stewart Wingate, said: "Now Britain's choice is clear; expand Gatwick and support genuine competition, lower fares and greater choice for passengers or expand Heathrow and return to the stale monopoly of the past and watch the cost of going on holiday, travelling for business and exporting goods and service go up." | Gatwick said the commission's decision was an important juncture. The airport's chief executive, Stewart Wingate, said: "Now Britain's choice is clear; expand Gatwick and support genuine competition, lower fares and greater choice for passengers or expand Heathrow and return to the stale monopoly of the past and watch the cost of going on holiday, travelling for business and exporting goods and service go up." |
| Heathrow has yet to comment. | Heathrow has yet to comment. |