We believe that London needs a better not bigger Heathrow airport that focuses on improvements to reduce noise and air pollution, not on further expansion which would harm Londoners and significantly damage South West London.
GLA Conservatives have always opposed plans for a third runway at Heathrow as it would further disrupt residents, harm Londoners health and cost the taxpayer billions. It would also fail to satisfy London’s long-term need for a new hub airport as our city continues to grow.
Londoners would be best served by a new internationally competitive hub airport in the Thames Estuary. It would be able to provide the extra capacity our city needs long into the future and have the space to compete globally. The noise from the new hub would affect far fewer people than those impacted by a third runway at Heathrow. It would also help regenerate the area creating new jobs and investment to the east of the capital.
Heathrow recently launched a consultation into plans to allow 25,000 extra flights a year before a third runway is built. The airport plans to do this by altering its flight paths, allowing some residential areas a break but cutting respite over parts of west London. We believe the only acceptable changes at Heathrow airport must improve the status quo by making the airport more efficient to reduce noise and air pollution. For example, there is a case for allowing aeroplanes to land on both existing runways simultaneously to ensure there are fewer delays and less need for circling around the airport. However, we oppose any efficiency changes intended to squeeze more flights into Heathrow as it will increase noise and air pollution.
Stopping The Third Runway
We support the coalition of councils, residents and environmental charities that have launched a legal challenge to the government’s decision to approve the building of a third runway. As Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan should do more to support this legal challenge and oppose plans to expand Heathrow’s expansion.
Here’s our response to Heathrow’s latest consultation.
GLA Conservatives have always opposed plans for a third runway at Heathrow as it would further disrupt residents, harm Londoners health and cost the taxpayer billions. It would also fail to satisfy London’s long-term need for a new hub airport as our city continues to grow.
Londoners would be best served by a new internationally competitive hub airport in the Thames Estuary. It would be able to provide the extra capacity our city needs long into the future and have the space to compete globally. The noise from the new hub would affect far fewer people than those impacted by a third runway at Heathrow. It would also help regenerate the area creating new jobs and investment to the east of the capital.
Heathrow recently launched a consultation into plans to allow 25,000 extra flights a year before a third runway is built. The airport plans to do this by altering its flight paths, allowing some residential areas a break but cutting respite over parts of west London. We believe the only acceptable changes at Heathrow airport must improve the status quo by making the airport more efficient to reduce noise and air pollution. For example, there is a case for allowing aeroplanes to land on both existing runways simultaneously to ensure there are fewer delays and less need for circling around the airport. However, we oppose any efficiency changes intended to squeeze more flights into Heathrow as it will increase noise and air pollution.
Stopping The Third Runway
We support the coalition of councils, residents and environmental charities that have launched a legal challenge to the government’s decision to approve the building of a third runway. As Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan should do more to support this legal challenge and oppose plans to expand Heathrow’s expansion.
Here’s our response to Heathrow’s latest consultation.