Minister Announces Heathrow Runway Alternation Consultation Postponed until the Autumn

Transport Minister Derek Twigg announced today (1) that the Government consultation on its plans to end runway alternation at Heathrow, originally expected this month, has been postponed until the Autumn.

In its 2003 Aviation White Paper the Government announced that it would bring forward proposals to end runway alternation at Heathrow — the current practice where planes landing over London switch runways at 3pm, thus giving residents in the boroughs closes to the airport a half day’s break from the aircraft noise. It proposed to introduce ‘mixed-mode’, where planes would land on both runways at the same time. That would increase the number of planes using Heathrow from today’s level of 470,000 a year to as much as 550,000 a year.

The Minister indicated in today’s statement that the impact of introducing mixed-mode on noise and air pollution levels was more “complex” than originally envisaged. It is thought that there are particular problems with the air pollution levels. Over the past two years the Department for Transport has been working closely with BAA and the airlines, doing research under the name of Project Heathrow, to reassess future pollution levels at the airport if mixed-mode is introduced or a third runway is built. There have been concerns that if the go-ahead is given for further expansion, air pollution levels at the airport will exceed the legal limits set down by the European Commission (2).

An independent report, compiled by the Aviation Environment Commission, published last week found that it would be virtually impossible to expand Heathrow and remain within the legal limits (3).

John Stewart, Chair of HACAN ClearSkies, said, “This postponement seems to show the Government’s plans to expand Heathrow are in real trouble. It had hoped to make an announcement at the end of this year on the future of both runway alternation and a third runway. This delay will make that impossible. The Government should stop trying to fiddle with the figures and face the fact that further expansion at Heathrow will not be possible.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

(1). Ministerial Statement below

(2). These limits come into force in 2010, but the Government is expected to progressively reduce air pollution levels in the years running up to that date.

(3). The report is called Emissions Impossible. Its author Pete Lockley can be contacted on 0207 248 2223. The full report is also on the HACAN website It was commissioned by Project Heathrow Watch, a group of MPs and local authorities concerned about the expansion of Heathrow.

For further information:

John Stewart on 0207 737 66641 or 07957385650


Department of Transport

Friday 17 March 2006 11:27
Department for Transport (London)

PROJECT FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF HEATHROW

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Derek Twigg): In the Air Transport White Paper, we promised to examine the scope for further development of Heathrow, consistent with environmental conditions. We are making good progress on this programme of work

In particular, the review of how to assess air quality around Heathrow, involving independent experts, has recently been completed and we will be publishing a full technical report shortly. A further statement will be made at the time, and copies of the report will be deposited in the Library.

The technical report will include data on air quality around the airport in recent years, comment on emissions sources, and recommend how these can best be represented and modelled in future years. We believe this process, which has itself been subject to peer review, will provide a solid basis for the remaining stages of the project.

In parallel, we have been working with BAA and others to identify how mixed mode might be operated at Heathrow, and its likely impacts in terms of noise and air quality in particular. The work so far has confirmed that the issues are complex. It will take some time to identify options, their impacts and the range of accompanying measures that might be needed to mitigate these, including steps to manage traffic on the surrounding road network. Similar considerations apply equally to the further assessment of the likely impacts of a third runway.

Accordingly, we think it prudent to defer public consultation. This will ensure that when we consult, it will be informed by the fullest possible assessment of impacts, and give consultees the best information on which they can make their responses.

Issued on behalf of the Department for Transport by GNN London

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