Thousands March Against Heathrow Expansion
May 31st, 2008 Posted in AirportsThe BBC reports that thousands of people attended a protest rally against the expansion of Heathrow airport:
“An estimated 3,000 protesters marched from Hatton Cross to Sipson, the village that would be lost if the planned runway goes ahead.
They then gathered to form a giant “NO”, that could be seen from the air.
Campaigners say the planned expansion would have a serious impact on hundreds of thousands of homes in the area.
But business groups and airlines claim the third runway is essential.
In November last year the government set out proposals for a major expansion at Heathrow, which could see the building of a third runway and a sixth terminal.”
Source: BBC News
The BAA proposal include:
- A new runway at 2,200m operational length - this would be slightly longer than previously envisaged (2,000m) to accommodate an efficient mix of all but the largest four-engined aircraft and allow the airport as a whole to operate effectively. The slightly longer runway length would not itself increase the land-take or require any additional properties. It would not affect the forecast mix of short-haul and long-haul traffic across the airport as a whole. Thus, it does not imply more carbon emissions.
- An additional passenger terminal, with direct access to existing rail services, that meets the needs of air passengers and airline alliances under mixed operations (both long-haul and short-haul traffic), and reduces the need for aircraft to taxi across the existing northern runway.
- Adding a third runway with associated passenger terminal facilities would require additional land, with a loss of around 700 properties including the community of Sipson.
- BAA believes a third runway could therefore be added at Heathrow and sustain at least 605,000 ATMs {Air Traffic Movements] in 2020 followed by a gradual increase to 702,000 ATMs in 2030 whilst keeping within the noise and air quality limits.
Source: Department of Transport
See also: Plane Stupid Website
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