Ministers Must Come Clean On Runway Pollution

8.19.36pm GMT Sat 23rd Aug 2008

[Aug 22]: THE Government must explain whether it plans to break EU air pollution rules by expanding Heathrow Airport, Susan Kramer MP has demanded; . .

. . she has tabled questions in the House of Commons after Stavros Dimas, the European commissioner for the environment, warned a third runway would "significantly" breach air pollution guidelines. He warned that an expanded Heathrow would exceed nitrogen oxide targets laid down by the EU, and has promised to write to the British Government asking for an explanation; he earlier met representatives of local authorities concerned about the plans, including the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames . .

Ms Kramer has asked the Government to confirm whether or not it plans to opt out of the regulations. She said: "The Government maintains that Heathrow can be expanded and mixed-mode introduced while meeting these EU pollution targets. However, I am really concerned that the Government will seek a way out from these limits, to allow it to continue with plans to expand Heathrow at the expense of our air quality. It is absolutely outrageous if the Government would seek to derogate from these limits either on the grounds of expanding Heathrow or under the guise of London as a whole."

Cllr Serge Lourie, Lib Dem leader of Richmond Council, has also welcomed the intervention from the EU Commissioner; he said: "We are hugely supportive of the European Union's warning against a third runway at Heathrow airport. This is yet another voice joining the chorus against the expansion. Local authorities and residents are overwhelmingly united in their opposition to a third runway and the extra noise and pollution it would create. The government should listen to this clear message." The Government has delayed making a decision on whether to press ahead with a third runway at Heathrow until the end of the year, after it received more than 70,000 responses to a consultation.

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