New group backs Heathrow expansion

Residents are opposed to airport expansion

A group has been formed to promote the benefits of expanding London's main airport.

According to Priority Heathrow the UK economy could lose out on almost £8bn in investment every year if a third runway at the west London airport is not developed.

The campaign brings together business organisations, regional development agencies, trades unions, tourism bodies and the aviation industry in backing further development of the Europe's biggest airport.

The government's recent consultation on the future of UK air transport has established a broad consensus on the major economic and social benefits to the country of airport expansion.

Priority Heathrow believes the airport should be the government's first choice for a new runway.

It says worldwide connections via Heathrow's international network could be lost without a third runway.

EXPANSION SOLUTIONS We are all aware of the desperate need to expand the country's airport capacity and see Heathrow as the solution to the problem of where to place extra runways Priority Heathrow spokesman

This could jeopardise international trade links and the nation's ability to attract and maintain overseas investment in the regions, it claims.

The airport currently generates over £5bn in wages alone each year for the British economy, supports over 250,000 jobs across the country and provides vital international links to the regions for business and tourism.

According to the Office of National Statistics, Heathrow is by far the UK's largest port of entry for overseas visitors.

In 2001, over 8.5 million passed through the airport, representing almost 40% of all visitors from overseas.

Environmental effects

Spokesperson for Priority Heathrow, Andrew Fraser, said: "We are all aware of the desperate need to expand the country's airport capacity and see Heathrow as the solution to the problem of where to place extra runways."

But the Hacan Clearskies organisation said expansion would have a detrimental effect on the local environment and that there were no discernable economic benefits from another runway.

Priority Heathrow said it recognises that expansion can only take place within strict environmental limits governing noise and local air quality.