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 29 August 2008 19:45 BST

Calls for halt to airport expansion

Wednesday, 21 May 2008 11:59
Airport expansion should be put on hold, study says

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The proposed expansion of Heathrow airport should be put on hold until the impact of increased air transport is fully understood, a report claims today.

The study from the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) and IPPR thinktank says a review of the London airport's expansion could also have implications for decisions on expansion at other UK airports, including Stansted.

A halt to expansion is needed, the report argues, as data on the benefits and impacts of aviation is widely disputed, making it impossible to weigh up the true impacts.

SDC and IPPR want a special commission to be set up to compile an updated evidence base on the economic, social and environmental benefits and costs of UK aviation.

They also want the government to consult the public and key stakeholders on the future of air travel in the UK, setting out policy options to stimulate a national debate.

These findings, the groups say, should be incorporated into the air transport white paper.

"The SDC and ippr held meetings with the Government, the aviation industry, academics, NGOs and citizens' groups over a period of a year," said SDC commissioner Hugh Raven.

"While we expected to find areas of conflict, we were unprepared for the level of fundamental disagreement over the data underpinning the government's whole aviation strategy."

"Until some basic questions are answered, the UK cannot be in a position to make major decisions about the future of air travel.

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said the government "fundamentally disagrees" with the findings of the report.

"It is simply wrong to claim that there is a consensus that the evidence base is flawed and, as the report admits, the most recently published background data on Heathrow was not even discussed," they added.

"We strongly believe the aviation industry must play its part in meeting its environmental costs which is why the government championed the inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

"But given the government has conducted a widespread debate over the last six years, deferring a decision in favour of a further three-year debate as this report suggests is not a serious option."
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