p16 columnist dec12 9/12/08 15:52 Page 16
news comment
ttglive.com
Mike Pearse ITV News
“A third runway at Heathrow
is vital for so many people,
but it’s the sort of long-term
planning we are so bad at”
T
error attacks in Mumbai, thousands That would be a disaster for the economy and
stranded at Bangkok airport and the industry. Under threat would be tens of
pirates attacking ships – it’s keeping thousands of jobs and billions of pounds.
the foreign desks at news organisa- Around 250,000 people rely on jobs at
tions as busy as ever. But for passengers and Heathrow and unless it expands, the hub status
the trade it couldn’t be worse. The world of the airport will decline. If more people fly
events have led to the usual scramble of people to Europe through places such as Paris and
changing holiday plans and agents working Amsterdam, it will have a massive impact here.
overtime. Add to that a government delay on a The decision to delay follows a big campaign
decision about Heathrow’s third runway and by local people, environmentalists and the
what a mess we seem to be in. Conservatives. David Cameron says he would
So what is the impact? Well, it is natural scrap the plan if elected and build new
when you have big events for people to rail lines. London Mayor Boris Johnson
change plans and avoid what they see as is about to launch an inquiry into
danger zones. The reality is that in a building a new airport in the Thames
few months’ time it is all forgotten and Estuary. It is a bonkers plan – who
things get back to normal. That is if the would pay the billions it would need?
situations calm down. It took a while Yes, we must take the environment
for the reputation of places such as into account, but we need to balance it
Thailand to recover after the tsunami, with jobs and prosperity in London and
but slowly they do succeed. the Thames Valley. It may seem odd to
The big question this time is will be giving a new runway the go-ahead
people go elsewhere or, with the credit at a time when jobs are being axed and
crunch hitting hard, stay put at home? airline routes are being cut. But a third
The challenge for the trade is to start runway is the sort of long-term planning
promoting the countries that have we are so bad at.
been hit as soon as the time is right. It is vital for so many people that the
The reality is that people have short airport is allowed to grow. In particular,
memories and when the recent events it is important for passengers, who face
are way down the news agenda the delays on a daily basis because the runways
incidents will become a distant memory. are full and planes spend hours burning fuel
Of much greater concern was the in the sky because they can’t land because
announcement at the end of last week to of lack of space.
delay a decision on a third runway at The good times will return and we need
Heathrow. Ministers have always insisted to have the infrastructure in place.
they backed the plan but there is growing
concern they will water down the blueprint. Mike Pearse, transport correspondent, ITV News
16 12.12.2008
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