The Gatwick Coordination Group (GCG) MPs welcomed the announcement by Heathrow Airport Ltd that they accept the implementation of all the recommendations of the Airports Commission, for example, the recommended ban on night flights at Heathrow.
Chairman of the GCG, Crispin Blunt commented:
“Now that Heathrow has agreed to the Airports Commission conditions there is nothing left to stop the Government giving the green light to a new runway at Heathrow.
“The Airports Commission’s recommendations for a comprehensive package of mitigation measures clearly trumps anything that the discredited Gatwick expansion option can offer.
“The Transport Select Committee recently endorsed the Airports Commission’s conclusions and recommendations and stated that the Government’s delay in taking a decision has ‘created uncertainty’. The Government cannot go on ignoring the unambiguous and unanimous findings of Sir Howard Davies and his independent expert Commission.
“Gatwick’s owners have proposed no measures to make expansion fair to local people. Unlike at Heathrow, Gatwick cannot guarantee respite from relentless noise to local residents. A decision for Gatwick would let down Britain and be a betrayal of communities in Surrey, Kent and East Sussex and West Sussex.
“The Government should welcome Heathrow’s announcement, rule out Gatwick, and get on with implementation of the Airports Commission’s Heathrow recommendation.”