Reading West MP and Labour’s Vice Chair for the Environment Martin Salter has declared his continued opposition the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport whilst welcoming the decision to abandon “mixed mode” which would have seen flight numbers rise by 60,000 a year by 2015.

Mr Salter has been spearheading the campaign against the expansion of Heathrow on environmental grounds and his Commons motion has now attracted the support of 126 MPs of all parties. Mr Salter said:-

“Up until Wednesday evening it appeared that the pressure from backbench MPs was strengthening the hand of Cabinet members like Ed Miliband (Climate Change Secretary) and Hilary Benn (Environment Secretary) and that there was every chance that the runway announcement would be postponed for a second time. Sadly, the Government has decided to go ahead, albeit with a number of concessions around emission controls and restricting the use of the new landing slots to cleaner aircraft. However, I remain to be convinced that these measures will be effective, as it beggars belief that an organisation like BAA would actually build a runway but not use it to the full capacity.”

Speaking in the House of Commons today (Thursday) in response to Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon’s announcement Mr Salter said:-

“Whilst there is not nearly enough in the statement that would drag me into the division lobbies to vote in favour of a third runway at Heathrow, it would be churlish not to acknowledge that the dropping of mixed mode lifts the immediate threat of intensifying aircraft noise, not just in west London, but as far afield as Reading, Watford, High Wycombe, and elsewhere. But I have to say that the long term prospects are somewhat grimmer.”

He added:-

“The public transport access to London Heathrow from the west is currently a joke and must be addressed immediately with the provision of a direct, high speed rail link from Swindon, Reading and the west directly into Heathrow Airport.”

Speaking afterwards Mr Salter said:-

“Whilst the immediate threat has been lifted and our campaign has clearly had some effect, it is going to be immensely difficult to convince people that the battle against climate change is still a top priority for our Government in the light of this decision. I also feel that the economic case for expanding airport capacity doesn’t automatically lead to the conclusion that all growth should be concentrated in one place. There was a powerful argument for a better Heathrow not a bigger Heathrow and for other alternatives to be considered.”