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Government green light to 10 million extra passengers at Stansted airport condemned
9 October 2008
Today's decision by Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon to allow 10 million more passengers to use Stansted airport - a 40 per cent increase - has been condemned by Friends of the Earth.
The application to increase passenger numbers at Stansted was referred to a Public Inquiry last year after the local authority, Uttlesford District Council, rejected the plans.
Friends of the Earth's Transport Campaigner Tony Bosworth said: "Allowing 10 million more people to fly from Stansted each year shows the Government's climate change strategy is a complete shambles."
"Only this week the Government was advised to cut UK carbon dioxide emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 - allowing airports to grow will make these targets almost impossible to meet."
"Ministers must abandon their airport expansion plans, invest in cleaner alternatives to short-haul flights such as fast rail links, and include Britain's share of international aviation emissions in its climate change targets."
Notes:
1. The Government has also announced a public Inquiry into plans to build a second runway at Stansted.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Oct 2008
