Jeremy Quin, MP for Horsham this morning welcomed the outcome of the long-awaited Davies Report into expanding airport capacity in the South East of England.
“Sir Howard Davies and his Commission were appointed to take the politics out of the decision and make a recommendation in the national interest. They have done so in the clearest possible terms. Their unanimous recommendation in favour of a third runway at Heathrow is supported by three years’ work and an overwhelming weight of evidence.”
The Davies Report outlines the massive incremental economic benefits to the UK of a third runway at Heathrow compared to any other option, that Heathrow provides the best means to secure long haul routes to markets that are of critical importance to UK business and that Heathrow is the centre of a huge Air Freight network which is of increasing importance to the country.
Speaking on the Today Programme this morning Sir Howard Davies commented
“The expansion that we really need in this country….points very firmly towards Heathrow.”
Mr Quin also welcomed the fact that, as explained by the Commission, this is a different Heathrow proposition from that ruled out six years ago. Furthermore the package of measures with which the Commission recommends Heathrow should be forced to comply; including operating within a noise envelope and a ban on flights before 6am, makes this a different proposal to that which was previously put forward.
“Davies has made clear that Heathrow should go ahead. The recommendation is clear and unambiguous. The Davies Commission is recommending a new Heathrow proposal with new restrictions being placed on how Heathrow operates in the future – it is a recommendation that those who have historically opposed Heathrow expansion can and should support.”
In a joint statement issued by the Gatwick Coordination Group of MPs opposed to a second runway at Gatwick the Group called for the Prime Minister to swiftly implement the Commission’s recommendation.