Brown backs third runway

GORDON BROWN today came out in defence of a third runway at Heathrow but faced fresh warnings that pollution limits must not be breached.

The Prime Minister stressed that the number of people wanting to fly from London's airports was forecast to double within 25 years.

At his monthly press conference at No 10, he said: "There is the combination of more people wanting to travel internationally and the fact that in Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt, there are either four or five runways there to deal with the traffic."

But ahead of a Commons debate on Heathrow, EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas today warned pollution laws must not be flouted to allow expansion.

Mr Dimas told the Standard: "It is critical that member states respect EU legislation which is designed to protect the environment and the health of our citizens."

Mr Brown emphasised the Government's "determination" to look at the environmental impact of another runway. "Our commitment is to look at all the environmental issues that have arisen," he said.

Mr Dimas's intervention is the latest in a series of blows to the project which includes:

*  A European Commission belief that Britain will not meet new EU laws on nitrogen dioxide near Heathrow — even if it gets an extension to 2015 to comply — unless new anti-pollution measures are introduced.

*  The Government's own green adviser, the Environment Agency, saying the Government has failed to make the case that the nitrogen dioxide limits will not be breached by a bigger Heathrow.

*  Barristers advising anti-expansion campaigners that a decision permitting a third runway could be challenged by a judicial review on the grounds that the Department for Transport's environmental findings are flawed.

* Ministers admitting there are likely to be "some limited NO² exceedences" north of the M4 near Heathrow in 2015, which would need to be addressed by traffic management.

* Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, who is seen as the leading Cabinet rebel on Heathrow, warning against trying to fudge the pollution limits.
Mr Dimas spoke out as the Government launched a concerted effort to persuade people of the benefits of a third runway in a Commons debate this afternoon.

Many MPs believe the Government has already made up its mind to give the go-ahead to another runway which would increase capacity from 480,000 flights a year to more than 700,000.

Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers
said: "Today's generation will be appalled that the Government is so hell-bent on a third runway."

But Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon insisted that he was not turning a deaf ear before making a final decision by the end of the year.

He must now convince his own Cabinet colleagues. Mr Benn, Commons Leader Harriet Harman and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband are said to have raised concerns over the Heathrow policy.

Many MPs believe that the environmental, economic and political climate has changed since Heathrow expansion was outlined in 2003.

The EU Air Quality Directive sets limits for air pollutants, including a level for NO² of 40 micrograms per cubic metre, to be met by 1 January 2010.

Complying with this pollution law can be postponed until 1 January 2015 at the latest if a request for derogation has been submitted and accepted by the European Commission.

Heathrow operator BAA insisted that cleaner, quieter aircraft and better public transport meant noise and air quality requirements could be achieved. "If they are not then the number of air traffic movements would have to be reduced until they are," a spokesman added.