Business groups speak out for extra runways
BUSINESS groups have urged the government to press ahead with airport expansion no matter what the Davies Commission recommends today.
Sir Howard Davies’ panel is this morning due to set out a handful of shortlisted options for adding space to the south east of England’s airports, in which Heathrow is believed to feature heavily.
But the coalition has pledged to take no action until Davies’ final report in 2015, leading some to call for quicker decisions on where to build runways.
“Whatever the options on Davies’ shortlist, all political parties must get behind the cause of airport expansion,” said Graeme Leach, chief economist at the Institute of Directors. “Politicians must be prepared to take the tough but necessary decisions for the future of the UK. There has been far too much delay already.”
More than 100 firms have signed up to the Let Britain Fly group, which wants the three main political parties to act on Davies’ recommendations.
Protesters against new runways at Heathrow said yesterday they planned to step up their campaign to block expansion.