27/7/02
MP Oppose 3rd Runway At Heathrow
Yesterday in the House of Commons,
Alan Keen MP formally opposed proposals to construct a third runway at Heathrow
Airport.
The statement of opposition came
during the announcement of the consultation on the future of air transport and
airport capacity in the United Kingdom.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Alistair Darling, proposed to
build at Heathrow adding an additional shorter runway.
On the floor of the House of
Commons, Alan Keen said:
“Would the Secretary of State add
another telling statistic to those that he is beginning to compile?
I am the third Heathrow Member to
speak this afternoon. One of the other
two has always opposed major developments at Heathrow, while the other has always
supported them. The latter has changed
his mind, and I shall add another to the list of those who have moved across:
because of the people living around Heathrow.
I do not agree that it is possible
to expand outside Heathrow without causing dreadful damage to people’s
lives. People are already suffering
greatly, as I hope that the Secretary of State understands, but they carry on
and make a major contribution to one of the world’s greatest industries.
Two people have therefore switched over this afternoon.”
End.