A new report commissioned by Friends of the Earth says the Government”s argument for expanding Heathrow is weak.
The debate over whether or not to expand Heathrow Airport rages on, after a report published last week shows the Government”s reasons for wanting the expansion are flawed.
The report was commissioned by the environmental group Friends of the Earth and published by an independent research group, the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).
According to the department of transport, adding a third runway to Heathrow will provide more frequent and cheaper flights to the increasing amounts of passengers flying in and out of the UK. The Government say expansion is necessary despite acknowledging it would increase carbon emissions.
But Richard Dyer, aviation campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said more runways would encourage more passengers to fly. He said: ”It”s like with roads. If you create more roads, you fill them with more traffic.”
The SEI report shows the Government”s economic case for building a third runway relies on the cost of oil falling to $53 in 2030, less than half of current $130 prices. If the cost of oil does not fall to such levels, tickets will remain high and fewer passengers will fly. Friends of the Earth say this weakens the Government”s argument for a third runway.
The environmental group says there are viable alternatives to expansion which the Government hasn”t considered, such as promoting rail travel for short-haul passengers and encouraging companies to invest in video conferencing.
The environmental group also recommends Heathrow limits passengers who use the airport only for transfers. Dyer pointed out that the department of transport”s own figures from 2005 show nearly 30 per cent of Heathrow”s passengers were just passing through.
Sarah Riches