My quote of the day is from Neil Bentley, the deputy director general of the CBI. He said in December "Environmental regulation doesn't have to be a burden for business. Framed correctly, environmental goals can help our economic goals - help start new companies and generate new jobs and enrich us all." Hear, hear!
But I also note that 70 business leaders have signed a letter to call on the Government to support Heathrow, promote competition and find a solution to this country’s aviation crisis. Shame they failed to acknowledge the environmental consequences of aviation. It is only when social, environmental and economic are considered that we can ever be truly live up to the sustainable development dream. Let's get all the issues on the table and have the grown-up debate.
On a more positive note, Shadow Transport Secretary Maria Eagle MP was out on the Hoo Peninsula yesterday in Grain to see for herself the issues and hear about the anti-Estuary Airport campaign. RSPB colleagues welcomed the chance to brief her on the risks and dangers a Thames Estuary airport brings.
She was clearly listening. This is what she said...
“I am very clear that the right way to plan for the future our aviation industry is to focus on how best to deliver additional capacity at our existing airports, particularly how we could better utilise existing runways.
“The idea of building a new airport from scratch... is a huge distraction. It is causing unnecessary local concern in Medway and on the Isle of Grain in particular. The overwhelming majority of the industry is clear that, were it to go ahead, it would inevitably lead to the eventual closure of Heathrow with a disastrous impact on the West London economy.
“It was very important to see for myself why those in Medway feel so strongly that a Thames Estuary airport is a complete non-starter. The impact on a natural habitat that is home to thousands of migrating birds would be enormous. Added to the site’s proximity to a major LNG terminal, a sunken wreck laden with high explosives and the London Array wind farm, it is clear to anyone who bothered to visit that there are simply too many issues that would have to be overcome.
“I am repeating again my call to the Transport Secretary to agree to serious cross-party talks on the future of Britain’s aviation industry. Those talks should focus on how to provide additional capacity at Britain’s existing airports in a way that best protects the local environment and reduces the industry’s contribution to climate change through tougher targets to cut emissions.”
These seem like decent terms for a grown up debate.
Do you agree?
It would be great to hear your views.
Thank you George for the extra detail and Sooty for your observation. The rise in enthusiasm for Heathrow will be an interesting test of Government's commitment to ruling our a third runway at Heathrow. We'll see, very soon, how they react to this sort of pressure.