Air links 'need to be protected'

A sixth terminal may be added to the newly opened T5

Air links between the Highlands and major hubs should be protected by government and not dictated by market forces, a council's officers have said.

Highland Council officials have prepared a response to consultation on a planned expansion of Heathrow.

The region no longer has a connection with the UK's busiest airport after airline bmi terminated a daily return service because of a lack of bookings.

A third runway and sixth terminal have been proposed for Heathrow.

Highland Council's transport, environmental and community services will be asked on Thursday to approve the response.

It includes a call for slots to be reserved for three rotations per day for Inverness in order to allow for the potential re-commencement of an Inverness-Heathrow service.

Also, a UK Government strategy for transport links serving peripheral regions rather than leaving it solely to market forces to decide which region is served.

Council officials said the re-commencement of a link with Heathrow was vital to assisting the Highlands and Islands in making a strong contribution to the UK economy.

Proposals to expand Heathrow have gone out for public consultation.

Creating a new 2,200m runway just north of the A4, as well as a new terminal will mean 700 properties, including the village of Sipson, will have to be destroyed.