South-East Airport Expansion Plans are Folly

Responding to the Government announcement today that a third runway at Heathrow airport and a new runway at Stansted are to be built, the Liberal Democrats have attacked the Government's aviation strategy.

Calling on it to develop a new strategy for aviation which is genuinely environmentally sustainable, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Alistair Carmichael MP said:

"In the light of the Stern Review, the Government must urgently revise its plans for aviation expansion. It is absolute folly to make any plans to expand airports in the south east of England.

"The previous White Paper's 'predict and provide' strategy for air transport was fundamentally flawed. A new approach is needed to help reduce emissions from aviation.

"Plans for a third runway at Heathrow were originally subject to achieving reductions in emissions. However, it is clear that the Government is now intent on pushing ahead with the expansion come what may."