Heathrow expansion consultation begins

The government has published a consultation on increasing capacity at Heathrow, which will consider whether a third runway and sixth terminal could be built at the west London airport.

Heathrow is facing increased competition from continental airports such as Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt, which offer a greater range of destinations. Transport minister Ruth Kelly warned that "if nothing changes, [its] status as a world-class airport will be gradually eroded - jobs will be lost and the economy will suffer".

Critics note that building a new runway would require the destruction of a whole village - Sipson - and would lead to a host of towns suffering worse noise pollution.

However, the government has conducted analysis suggesting that the proposed expansion could meet noise limits.

Kelly continued: "I am clear that any decision on expansion has to be compatible with meeting tough local environmental tests on noise and air quality.

"I fully understand this is an issue which raises strong feelings on all sides which is why we are making every effort to encourage people to make their views known."

The proposals stipulate that there should be no net increase in the total area of 127 sq km that has suffered noise of 57 decibels or more since 2002.

The government would also have to be confident that all pollutants would be contained within EU limits, with a particular stress on containing nitrogen dioxide pollution.

As well as this, a requirement has been set that there should be improved public transport access to Heathrow.

The changes would mean that Heathrow could handle 720,000 take-offs and landings per year, up from the present 480,000. As well as this, Kelly has proposed that, in the interim, the two existing runways be "mixed-mode" - in other words, used for both take-offs and landings.

This would allow for as many as 540,000 air traffic movements per year. At the current time, one runway handles take-offs, and the other landings.

Industry figures are particularly keen that Heathrow should expand and improve so that London does not lose its status as a world-class business centre. For some time, travellers have complained of 'Heathrow hassle' because of excessive delays and a generally underwhelming travel experience.

Stephen Nelson, chief executive of Heathrow operator BAA, told BBC Radio 4: "It's been over capacity for 17 years, it's now handling 60,000 more passengers a day than it was built for - that puts us under extraordinary pressure."

British Airways head Willie Walsh stressed that the runways were completely full from noon till night.

"A breath of fog at 7am causes knock-on delays all day," he said.

The closing date for responses to the consultation is February 27, 2008, and final decisions on policy will be taken next year.

In the meantime, passenger congestion at Heathrow will be alleviated when Terminal 5 opens in March, 2008.

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