We must not Drop Our Guard on the 3rd Runway

The Sunday Times reported last Sunday that BAA is not preparing to submit a planning application for a 3rd runway until after a general election. This is further evidence that the success of the campaign against the 3rd runway. Now most independent commentators believe that the 3rd runway will not go ahead. However it was already known that BAA was unable logistically to submit a planning application for another 12 to 18 months. Just as with BAA’s assurances over Terminal 5, it suspected that BAA strategy is to accept a delay but to continue lobbying for a 3rd runway when BAA’s finances are in a better position in two to three years time. That is why as the local MP I have welcomed the news reports of BAA’s planning delay but I have cautioned that anti runway campaigners must not drop their guard. After all their lies over Terminal 5 none of us trust BAA an inch and although I welcome BAA’s delay in submitting a 3rd runway planning application as another step in killing off the runway threat, we must not drop our guard. We need to continue to ensure that through our legal challenge, our community campaigning and by building a massive majority in Parliament against the runway this threat is killed off once and for all.

submitted by John on 14 Oct 2009 at 09:04