The debate over airport expansion in the south east intensified on Saturday as the man leading the case for a second runway at Gatwick warned of a massive public backlash if political leaders perform a policy U-turn and back a third runway at Heathrow.
Sir Roy McNulty, the chairman of Gatwick airport and formerly chair of the Civil Aviation authority told the Observer there would be “all to hell to play” from people living under the Heathrow flight path, because they were promised by David Cameron before the last election – when he was promoting green policies – that there would be no third runway at Heathrow.
Labour leader Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrats also opposed the expansion of Heathrow.
On Tuesday a public consultation on airport expansion being carried out by Sir Howard Davies’s Airport Commission comes to an end, bringing the issue back into the spotlight as the general election approaches.
In a report last year the commission, which has been asked by ministers to examine the options and make a recommendation, ruled out Boris Johnson’s idea of a new four-runway airport in the Thames airport as unrealistic, and made clear that the choice was between a third runway at Heathrow or a second at Gatwick.
Since 2010 the Conservatives and Labour have abandoned outright opposition to Heathrow expansion and now say they will wait for the Davies report before they decide how to proceed. Nick Clegg tried but failed at the last Lib Dem conference to get his party to recognise the need for expansion of capacity in the south east.
McNulty said he was sure that all the main parties would make much of environmental issues in their election manifesto. The public, he said, would not understand if they backed a solution with clear negative implications for noise and air quality in and around London.
“The commission’s data shows that the number of people who are not currently affected by significant noise but who would be if the Heathrow plans go ahead is 320,000 as a result of expansion of the Heathrow north west runway.
“How will the public react? There will be all to play with a situation like that. What I have noticed over the last 10 years is that people’s sensitivity to noise has increased quite substantially.
“What people had put up with 20 years ago without complaint is now the cause of a lot more aggravation. So 320,000 people being affected from central London to Slough is a major issue.”
Campaigners for a third runway at Heathrow maintain that they have met, or will meet, many of the environmental concerns over noise and air quality and say that Heathrow’s potential as an international hub, its location close to the capital, and transport links, make it the only viable option if the UK wants to maximise inward investment and job creation. In evidence to the commission in December, Heathrow airport’s chief executive John Holland-Kaye said noise from early morning arrivals could be reduced by a three-runway airport as planes would be able to land further down the runway and fly a steeper landing approach. “Our proposed runway is now located further west to reduce the number of people affected by noise and the approach is over the M4. The longer runway allows respite from noise for every community.”
He also told the commission that in order to address concerns over air quality, there would incentives for people to use public transport to get to and from the airport, including a possible congestion charge for people travelling to the airport by car.
MPs and campaigners against Heathrow expansion will stage a protest at Downing Street on Tuesday – when the consultation ends – reminding the prime minister of his statement before the 2010 election, when he said “no ifs; no buts; there will be no third runway”.
Conservative MPs Zac Goldsmith and Angie Bray will join the protest.
John Stewart, chairman of the anti-Heathrow expansion group HACAN, said: “We are deliberately targeting Downing Street because the decision about a new runway will be a political one. The politicians can override whatever recommendations the Airports Commission will come up with in the summer.
“This event once again demonstrates the cross-party nature of the opposition to a third runway. It also shows the geographical spread of the current problems caused by Heathrow which can only get worse if a new runway is built. Representatives of groups from as far apart as Brockley and Teddington will be going into Downing Street.”
