Summary
THE Cabinet faces a growing split over a third Heathrow runway. Today the Business Secretary, Peter Mandelson, has reiterated his support for expansion on business grounds. But Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has broken ranks, expressing his unhappiness over the environmental damage it would cause. Two weeks ago, the Transport Secretary, Geoff Hoon, postponed the long-awaited decision to next month.
One potential stopgap, as we report today, is to allow more flights from existing runways. Such a "mixed mode" solution, allowing take-offs and landings to alternate from existing runways, would allow more flights, although overall it would inevitably create more pollution and more noise. It will not satisfy airport owner BAA and British Airways, the main proponents of expansion. But the basic problem raised by Mr Benn remains: with new EU air quality targets coming in before a third runway would be completed, a bigger Heathrow would be almost certain to breach the rules. It would also risk breaching the Government's own targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.See the full content of this document
Extract
Heathrow Doubt ; Comment
In the long term the G...
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